We conducted a training cruise on the Oshoro Maru as preparation for the 2026 Arctic cruise and as practical training for students in the Department of Applied Marine Science. During the cruise, we carried out observations along route from Hakodate to Kushiro. The students measured the winter distribution of warm Tsushima current and cold Oyashio current and gained hands-on experience in oceanographic observations.

In this cruise, students and instructors from different backgrounds were on board. Students who will be on the open training 2026 Arctic cruise and students from Kasetsart University, instructors including Drs. Ueno, Matsuno, and Son from Uehiro Lab for Oceanography were on onboard.

This training cruise took place from February 25th to March 4th. During the cruise, students learned how to use marine observation instruments, measure dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a concentrations and follow onboard safety and operational procedures.

At the end of the cruise, students presented and discussed the water mass characteristics of southern Hokkaido in late February using the data collected during the voyage.

Transferring seawater collected from the ocean into small sample vials for analysis

Filtering seawater samples collected for chlorophyll-a measurements