A Science Sea Trial Success!
Following an extensive period of winter maintenance, our research vessel, Silurian, set sail on Hebridean seas to test new science equipment on board. The data gathered during expeditions deepens the understanding of our seas and protects the species found off Scotland’s west coast, so sea trails are vital to ensure all systems are go!
With the sun breaking through over the Sound of Mull and a full crew on board led by Skipper, Emma Burgess, we returned to the water - refreshed, refitted, and ready for another field season of research. Incredibly, this trip marked the 80th time Emma has joined Silurian as crew! Over the past 14 years, Emma has joined the vessel, initially as First Mate, then returning when she had qualified as a Skipper. Hailing from the Ross of Mull, Emma has an intimate knowledge of our local waters and has supported hundreds of volunteers who have joined an expedition during her tenure. Anyone who has sailed with Emma can testify to her knowledge, skills, work ethic and all-round good craic!
L - R: Emma Steel (Senior Science Officer), Emma Burgess (Skipper) and Hannah Lightley (Science Officer)
This maiden voyage of the 2025 field season marked an important moment: a dedicated science sea trial to test new systems and equipment, thanks to generous support from the HX Foundation and Nature Scot. Thanks to the HX Foundation, we were able to install new computers, as well as purchase a high-quality camera and a dry bag to keep sensitive equipment protected when moving on and off the vessel.
One of these computers is used for acoustic research, allowing us to monitor underwater sound in real time. Towing our hydrophone, we watched and listened live as distinctive whistles from common dolphin appeared on the spectrogram. Just 10 minutes later, the dolphins appeared to play and bow ride at the front of the boat.
Back on land, this acoustic data is meticulously analysed to identify harbour porpoise clicks, helping us understand their presence and activity around Scotland’s west coast.
Our new camera also had its moment to shine, when a minke whale surfaced off the coast of Coll. Getting crisp, high-resolution images is vital for HWDT’s Photo-ID work, which relies on clear markings and dorsal fin shapes to identify individual whales over time. Each photo contributes to long-term monitoring and conservation of this iconic species.
You can explore all the individual minke whales archived by HWDT in our Minke Whale Catalogue.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Hurtigruten Foundation for helping us make these essential upgrades. Their support ensures that our science is not only robust but also ready for the future - allowing us to gather better data, protect our equipment, and continue connecting people with the marine life we work to understand and protect.
With new tools at the ready and Silurian back in action, we can’t wait to welcome volunteers aboard again and dive into the full expedition season. Here's to a field season of discovery, connection, and impact.
Track lines of the areas surveyed during the sea trails