SEAmester VIII Sets Sail: 10 Days of Ocean Discovery and Science Aboard the SA Agulhas II
SEAmester (South Africa's floating classroom) is a 10-day postgraduate-level research and training voyage taking place aboard the SA Agulhas II as part of the annual Agulhas current scientific survey. This is a uniquely immersive experience that prepares students for advanced marine careers—while nurturing collaboration, diversity, and real scientific impact. Students from most universities in Southern Africa apply, and about 47 are selected for this incredible opportunity. Selected students are split into two science streams, one being the ‘Tools of The Trade’ and the other being, ‘Oceans in a Changing Climate’; they also get to chose electives from the Art Stream, which comprises of Science Education, Seascapes, Mosaics and Science Communication through Photography & Video making. The schedule also included evening lectures, ship tours, a SEAmester themed party and a fancy art exhibition to showcase the student’s artwork at the end of the cruise.
SEAmester is a transformative, hands-on ocean science voyage combining shipboard field research along the Agulhas Current, with group-based project work and expert mentorship. This prepares students for advanced marine careers—while nurturing collaboration, diversity, and real scientific impact. SEAmester wouldn’t be possible without Prof. Isabelle Ansorge (Oceanography Department at the University of Cape Town) and the fantastic Tahlia Henry (SEAmester program coordinator) both working their magic to make this whole experience a reality.
The SA Agulhas II is a national polar research and supply vessel owned by DFFE (South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment) and can accommodate 100 students, scientists & lecturers and about 40 crew. It’s major annual research & supply missions are to Antarctica (SANAE IV base); Gough & Marion Islands, as well as being used for physical, chemical, and biological oceanography, meteorology, climate science, and marine geology.
This year’s SEAmester ‘Class Afloat’ Programme ran alongside the Coast to Current Research Cruise, which was led by Chief Scientist, Mr Marco Worship, Scientific Research Technician at the Department of Environmental Affairs and the rest of his team consisted of scientists and technicians representing DFFE, SAEON, UCT, CPUT, SAPRI and SMCRI. During the 10-day voyage, the scientific team managed to complete 22 oceanographic sampling stations (CTD casts and plankton nets) along the Mossel Bay Monitoring Line (MBML) and the C2C transect extending from Sundays River mouth across the core of the Agulhas Current. At both transects, a range of physical, chemical and biological parameters were sampled to capture the complexity of the region, including the Agulhas Current and its surrounding waters. The team also deployed 5 Argo floats (3 adopted floats) and a Sailbuoy, while braving the weather facing peak wind speeds of 72 knots during a day of near-hurricane weather. Find out more about the Coast to Current cruise highlights here.
During the cruise, the passengers also got to participate in an ongoing study for Dr Nicole Taylor’s (Lecturer, Design and Mechatronics, University of Stellenbosch) – monitoring and recording the state of passenger’s sea sickness. Each passenger had to complete a diary entry each day monitoring and recording the state that they were in for that day, and if you felt sea-sick (either feeling sleepy, nauseous, vomiting, etc). Her research was about understanding people’s well-being while living and working aboard the research vessel. See more information on her study and it’s importance:
Feedback from MARiS Participants
Several MARiS ECRs were accepted to join the SEAmester programme as students, lecturers and assistants, and the Coast to Current scientific team. Here are some of the team’s thoughts on what they experienced and took out from the SEAmester VIII cruise.
While braving the storms and rough seas, Electrical Engineering Master Students, Daniel Jones and David Sephton-Poultney went onboard as SEAmester students in the “Tools of the Trade” stream and had the opportunity to learn from some of the most brilliant minds and passionate scientists in the field of marine sciences, gaining valuable experience on how to apply themselves in the marine field.
David Sephton-Poultney, Electrical Engineering Masters student
He shares, “My project is based on data collected from a cruise that took place on board the SA Agulhas II in 2022. I applied to SEAmester to get a chance to see how datasets like the one used in my project are collected and how exactly science takes place on board a research vessel. I took part in SEAmester as a student in the Tools of the Trade stream as I have minimal knowledge of oceanography or any other branch of Marine Sciences, and technical work is more my field.”
The cruise was a mind-blowing experience, it has got to be one of the most busy but fun two weeks of my life. There was something happening that you could take part in and things to learn almost 24 hours a day. Water samples were being collected by the CTD, animal and plat samples by the dredge, weather balloons were being launched, whale and seabird data was being collected and samples were being processed in the labs. Everyone I met was welcoming and enthusiastic to share their work and knowledge.
David further explains, “This experience has given me the itch to try and go back for another cruise and maybe work on a research base down South. I had no idea how much research and science is being done continuously on the ship and the bases it serves and just how important the work is. Hopefully I'll be back on board soon.”
Daniel Jones, Electrical Engineering Masters student
He shares, “I took part of SEAmester VIII as a “tools of the trade” student as I love to learn about the tech that makes the science possible out at sea! Seeing how rough the conditions out at sea were, certainly made me think of new ways to improve and protect the hardware I use as part of my masters.”
I personally loved watching the ship crash through the giant waves and star gazing on the helideck. I also cherished the friendships I made and strengthened throughout the voyage.
Taking every possible moment to learn from this experience, both David and Daniel had a busy schedule filled with lectures and practicals, while embracing a little bit of some downtime gazing at the stars, getting a tan on the helideck, and expressing themselves through painting and putting together some exquisite mosaics.
Dayna Collins, Oceanography Masters Student, was one of the SEAmester assistants which assisted with facilitating SEAmester activities and practical demonstrations, and guiding students to where they needed to be throughout the SEAmester programme.
She shares, “My role on SEAmester was essentially that of a runner/assistant, helping wherever needed. I made sure students were where they needed to be and assisted with deck work and practical demonstrations, mainly CTD operations and sampling the water collected from the Niskon bottles. I also helped some members of the scientific team and unofficially joined the night shift team.”
I really enjoyed this SEAmester experience - I loved interacting with the lecturers and students, and learning alongside them. I enjoyed and learnt a lot from observing and assisting the science team. The whole voyage was a highlight - both SEAmester activities and the science that was being done. I gained a lot form this voyage, be it new connections or strengthening existing friendships and a new sort of confidence that can only flourish from staying awake for 20 hours straight. Even the free time we did have was special – it was spent with good people, where fun was had, whether it was losing at Rummy-O or somehow doing really well at 30 Seconds (boardgame).
“The voyage also reaffirmed my love and re-ignited an excitement for what I am currently doing. It helped me decide the next steps in my journey. I wish to carry the same energy from the ship and purpose into my studies for the remainder of this year.”
Shani Fourie, Biological Sciences Masters Graduate
She shares, “I was invited to be part of the Coast to Current Scientific team and was tasked to collect phytoplankton from the surface waters at the various sample sites, filtering the water collected from the CTD Niskon Bottles, through filter paper in order to capture organisms between 0.2-3um and 3um-200um for Dr Emma Rocke’s research. These samples will be used to extract the DNA (eDNA) to analyse the community compositions within the Agulhas.”
I’d love to say the highlight was the party and braai, but in actual fact, it was the entire experience of living on a research vessel, meeting and networking with people from all over the world, including our home country, collaborating with other students and learning about their projects. The crew was incredibly helpful with assisting the science team with our sample collection. Being on such a large vessel with nothing but ocean surrounding you sparks teamwork, and I am super grateful for all the help from everyone on board.
Shanie further discloses that “My next step is to process these samples and to also do my PGCE to be a qualified science teacher. I have learnt that research requires perseverance and that help will always be available if you just reach out and ask.”
Leila Nefdt, MARiS Science Communication Officer, was invited to lecture the SEAmester students and share about the importance of Science Communication and tips on how to communicate their research to the public, as she has been doing through UCT-MARiS.
She shares, “Returning to the SA Agulhas II and SEAmester cruise, was an absolute thrill!
I was so excited to be asked to join the SEAmester VIII cruise for a second time, but this time coming back as a lecturer. I was asked to provide the science communication and photography elective, which fell part of the art stream, guiding the students with the task to create a short video documenting their SEAmester journey experience for the Tools of the Trade group and another one for the Oceans in a Changing Climate. I was also asked to give an evening lecture to share about my experience as a Marine Biologist and Marine Science Communicator based at UCT-MARiS and through my NPO #SeaTheBiggerPicture Ocean Initiative, as well as share my journey since participating in the very first SEAmester Cruise in 2016 up until now, hoping to inspire the students to follow their passion and share their story along the way.”
It was a huge privilege being a part of the lecturing team on board the SEAmester Cruise, alongside Professor Isabelle Ansorge (UCT), and many esteemed professionals (some that even taught me onboard the first SEAmester Cruise in 2016). I was so excited to be able to share my passion for science communication and public engagement and encourage others to do the same. A bonus moment of joining the cruise was being able to reunite with several friends, colleagues and students that I have worked with along my journey in science.
SEAmester is an incredible opportunity for students, lecturers and the scientific team to explore key areas of the polar research vessel—such as the bridge, scientific laboratories, auditorium, cabins, dining hall, and lounges—as well as to gain insights into the vessel’s involvement in marine and polar research expeditions, including those connected to some of UCT-MARiS’s own projects. Exposure to national infrastructure like the SA Agulhas II plays a pivotal role in sparking curiosity and inspiring future careers in ocean science, marine engineering, and maritime studies. So, keep up the great work to the SEAmester organizing committee and the SA Agulhas II research vessel and their crew.
Here is a news article expressing the importance and need for more marine engineers and nautical scientists: https://theconversation.com/south-africa-needs-more-nautical-scientists-and-marine-engineers-if-you-love-the-sea-these-may-be-the-careers-for-you-234104
