We have
another sea day on the way to Spitzbergen. Still a day with lots of activities.
Sea days
offer possibilities for bridge visits. There were six groups today to meet the
captain on the bridge. Two more will come tomorrow. The captain explains the
principles of navigation and equipment of Fram as well. And of course our
Chinese passengers love photo sessions and also stamps and signatures of the
ship's officers.
A former
head of Yellow River Station in Ny Alesund, our next destination, gave a
lecture about the place and his work there. In addition to our briefing for the
landing, the passengers are now best prepared for their visit to the science
village Ny Alesund.
Another
lecture dealt with the question: Who owns the Arctic. An overview of the
present situation in the five nations that border the Arctic Ocean. Basis for
all territorial questions is the "United Nations Convention on the law of
the sea". Even though all these activities in the Arctic circle around
economic profit there is a chance for a new dimension of international
cooperation in the Arctic, due to the specific conditions in this area.
Hopefully the rights and interests of the native people of the Arctic will be
taken into account in an appropriate way. Cause in the end it is the home of
these people, the bordering nations are longing for.
The
afternoon was filled with a table tennis competition, a lecture for the
children on board, and a lecture by the Taoist master for the others.
And of
course, since it is Sunday, we had freshly prepared waffles in the observation
lounge.
Even after
dinner the program went on with the fashion show, presenting the season's new
collection of clothing that is offered in the ship's shop. And finally this
show was topped by another one with singing and dancing that our cheerful
Chinese guests had prepared.
So, never
think a sea day could be boring.
