Boddy releasing a weather balloon for atmospheric research

There is something about a maritime environment that draws in a variety of people. This voyage is no different. For the science crew, going to sea is an infrequent experience or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For the crew, this is their norm. So many pathways can lead you here, so one of the questions that I find myself asking everyone is “How did you end up on this voyage?” 

I hope to share several people’s journey to working on an Antarctic research vessel. In this letter. I will start with a member of Nuyina’s crew. In subsequent letter’s I will move to a short profile of a field safety officer on board and a scientist.

Stephen Boddy, Deck Operations

Stephen Boddy is one of the IRs (integrated rating) on board Nuyina. He is from Melbourne. One morning at breakfast, Stephen told me that he had a job working for IBM directly out of college where his father worked. However, he quickly learned that he didn’t want to work in an office. At 21 he made a promise to himself that “he would never work inside again” and he has stuck to that. He has stories about working as a windsurfing instructor, an extra in a movie and a field geologist.

After hearing some of Stephen’s stories, I was curious to understand how he ended up working on Nuyina. He said, “It all started when I was 11 when I learned to sail.” Starting his maritime career, he worked on racing boats, delivering yachts, and working on fish farms. This foundation in maritime work is what set him up for an apprenticeship when he found himself in the right circles to become an IR.

The IR certification qualifies a person to operate deck equipment to help with deployments of instruments for the science teams. For each balloon launch the atmospheric science team completes, there is an IR helping us with the deployment by opening the 15 ton heli-hangar door. Their work for other operations includes tasks ranging from operating heavy-duty winches for the sea water sampling to lowering the seal tagging team’s boats off the ship with cranes. The IRs keep the operations on board the ship going and our science wouldn’t be possible without them.

IRs are in high demand, but the certification is very competitive. Stephen said that nine years ago, when he completed his training, most IR positions were passed down through family lines from fathers to sons. However, he met the lecturer for an IR course in Perth while playing poker one night. Because of Stephen’s maritime background the lecturer helped him to get into the 15-week, full-time course at a technical college to become an IR. The coursework is followed by a one and a half year apprenticeship. As an apprentice, he worked on six ships including Australia’s other research vessel, RV Investigator.

While the pay of working on oil and gas tankers was better, Stephen was at odds with the industry and preferred working on the science vessels. Two years ago, a representative of the maritime union called Stephen and asked him what his ideal ship to work on would be. He answered, “The Nuyina.”