On June 16, when the early summer heat was intense, a long road leading into Pohang New Port revealed a red vessel preparing for departure. It was the Araon, the only icebreaker research vessel in the country. An icebreaker refers to a ship that moves over the ice, breaking it apart with the weight of its hull.
During a five-day stay on the Araon of the Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) last June, I accompanied a test voyage conducted in the East Sea. The Araon conducts polar research, shuttling between the Arctic in summer and the Antarctic in winter. This voyage was scheduled to check the equipment ahead of its departure for the Arctic in early July.
The Araon has a gross tonnage of 7,507 tons and a length of 111 meters. On board were 67 researchers, crew members, and technical personnel, with over ten types of research equipment being tested simultaneously for studies in marine science, environment, climate, and resource exploration. It was closer to a massive scientific base than a ship.
On the first day on board, noise and vibrations shook the body. The sounds from the engines and machinery that moved the 7,500-ton vessel reverberated throughout the cabin, and at times, it was difficult to talk in the hallway. The first day left my head pounding all day. Kim Hyeong-ryeol, a researcher at KOPRI, noted, "The Araon has a sharp hull for breaking ice, so it sways much more than ordinary vessels," adding, "Fortunately, the weather during this test voyage was good, which meant the swaying was somewhat less severe."
Descending to the main deck where the laboratory was located, the atmosphere differed from the cabin. Amid the engine noise, the sounds of experimental equipment operating and researchers conversing could be heard. The researchers divided their time between experiments until dawn, adjusting the order of experiments according to the waves, wind, and weather.
The time when researchers gathered on the Araon was mealtime. When the set time arrived, people began appearing in the hallway, and the dining room came alive for a moment. The rumor that "Araon meals are famous for being delicious" was indeed true. One researcher laughed, saying, "It's a small consolation amidst a demanding experiment schedule."
Apart from the short meal times, interactions with others on the ship were almost nonexistent. A day on the Araon passed not by night and day, but rather by experimental units. Shin Dong-seop, the chief researcher overseeing the test voyage, said, "This voyage is a crucial opportunity to check all the equipment one last time before heading to the Arctic and Antarctic," adding, "I often couldn't sleep as I had to constantly check the equipment throughout the schedule, day and night."
The most notable equipment during this voyage was the "multi-channel seismic survey device" for marine geological exploration. This device measures the sound waves that return after a shock wave, created by instantly firing compressed air underwater, passes through the seabed strata. It is akin to a seabed CT scan. In the Arctic Ocean, sound waves can be sent deep into the ground to read the shape and structure of hidden layers beneath the surface up to dozens of kilometers deep.
Preparing to test the equipment took two full days. Clear weather did not automatically mean work could commence. Constant real-time checks of the maritime conditions required calculations of wind strength, wave height, and current direction. On the deck, researchers carefully pulled down heavy cables to connect them to the equipment, and meticulously tuned the position and launch angle of each sensor.
Data collected by the seismic detection device has led to numerous papers and patents regarding the geological structure of the Arctic continental shelf, the distribution of underwater permafrost, and carbon cycle models. Kang Seung-gu, a researcher at KOPRI, explained, "Thanks to this equipment, we have discovered the distribution of underwater permafrost and energy sources like gas hydrate on the Arctic continental shelf," adding, "This area had never been reported on before."
Underwater permafrost is also referred to as a ticking time bomb of climate change. As water temperatures rise and permafrost melts, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas that accelerates warming. Methane is known to be up to 80 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
Researcher Kang noted, "Especially on the Canadian side, research on the continental shelf has been halted since the 1970s, but we conducted joint research with the Geological Survey of Canada to acquire precise spatial and numerical data," stating, "We are still conducting joint research."
On the deck of the Araon, tests were also underway for the drilling equipment known as the "Rock Corer." The Rock Corer is a device that collects rock cores intact while drilling through seafloor rock, developed as the first marine rock collecting device using domestic technology.
Park Jae-beom, CEO of Shinyang Technology, which is in charge of developing the Rock Corer, explained, "Previously, we only collected gravel with equipment that resembled a excavator's bucket, but now we can collect the rock core intact for precise analysis of the strata," adding, "This will be used for research on the structure of the seabed crust in the Antarctic region in the future."
Experiments conducted on the Araon are broadening new horizons for polar research. The Araon has been deployed in polar research since 2011, marking a significant increase in the number of patent applications and published papers by KOPRI.
In 2010, KOPRI filed only 16 patents and published 45 papers, but last year it applied for 29 patents and published 181 papers. Looking only at papers published in the top 20% of journals, the number has increased over tenfold. A KOPRI official noted, "Before the Araon, it was hard to expect income from technology fees, but now it occurs steadily."
The Araon is also leading the internationalization of Korean polar science. Researchers from various countries, including Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, embark directly on the Araon to conduct joint experiments. In the past, we had to board foreign research vessels or seek partners, but now the Araon can bring them to Korea and onto the Araon.
Year after year, the results of Arctic research are increasing. In 2011, only one participating project was carried out over the 20 days using the Araon in Arctic research. However, last year, the research duration extended to 34.7 days, and participating projects increased to 13. Korea is being recognized as an important partner in international Arctic joint research.
These achievements have provided a significant foundation for Korea to obtain formal observer status at the Arctic Council in 2013. By becoming a formal observer, Korea secured a voice within the Arctic Council, effectively paving the way for the promotion of Arctic research and entry into Arctic affairs.
Researchers encountered during the test voyage shared that "most explorations that would not have been attempted without this vessel would not have been possible." To conduct the entire process of experimenting, collecting data, and analyzing within a single ship requires significant manpower, equipment, and environmental support simultaneously. The Araon fulfilled that role.
(Joint Planning: ChosunBiz·Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI))