Ship log: Week 6 of Expedition 391 – Walvis Ridge Hotspot – reporting from the JOIDES Resolution. From left: Wendy Nelson (Petrologist, Towson University, USA), Mike Widdowson (Sedimentologist/Volcanologist, University of Hull, UK), Mbili Tshiningayamwe (Petrologist/Observer, University of Namibia, Namibia), and Kaj Hoernle (Co-Chief Scientist, GEOMAR, Germany) on the catwalk. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_142]

Aaron Avery (Micropaleontologist, University of South Florida, USA) proudly presents: an ooze core catcher sample. (Credit: Maya Pinucs & IODP) [Photo ID: exp391_143]

Sriharsha Thoram (Paleomagnetist, University of Houston, USA) watches core catcher handling on the catwalk. (Credit: Maya Pinucs & IODP) [Photo ID: exp391_144]

Chris Visser (Marine Electronics Technician, IODP JRSO) performs maintenance on a belt sander. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_145]

IODP JRSO Assistant Laboratory Officer Daniel Marone works on a core liner that jammed inside the core barrel and was finally extruded after hours of hard work on the rig floor. He is ensuring that all pieces of recovered rock material are collected from the broken liner. (Credit: Maya Pinucs & IODP) [Photo ID: exp391_146]

Claire Carvallo (Paleomagnetist, Sorbonne Université, France) at her workstation. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_147]

The moon high in the sky at dawn. (Credit: David Buchs & IODP) [Photo ID: exp391_148]

A new sunny day has begun. Today brings a big change – it’s been 14 days since the harbor pilot left the ship and we had countless negative COVID-19 results. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_149]

Unsplit cores in the racks waiting to be measured. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_150]

The scientists and technicians celebrate “mask-off” by waving them around and enjoying seeing each other’s full faces for the first time this expedition. It’s been a long journey to get here! Standing from left: Steve Midgley (Operations Superintendent, IODP JRSO), Carel Lewis (Curatorial Specialist, IODP JRSO), William Sager (Co-Chief Scientist, University of Houston, USA), Kaj Hoernle (Co-Chief Scientist, GEOMAR, Germany), Tobias Höfig (Expedition Project Manager/Staff Scientist, IODP JRSO), Brian Swilley (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO), Kevin Gaastra (Paleomagnetist, Rice University, USA), David Buchs (Sedimentologist/Volcanologist, Cardiff University, UK), Jesse Scholpp (Petrologist, University of Tennessee, USA), Wendy Nelson (Petrologist, Towson University, USA), Ethan Petrou (Physical Properties Specialist, University of Oxford, UK), Katherine Potter (Physical Properties Specialist, Utah State University, USA), Aaron Avery (Micropaleontologist, University of South Florida, USA), John Shervais (Petrologist, Utah State University, USA), Sriharsha Thoram (Paleomagnetist, University of Houston, USA), Claire Carvallo (Paleomagnetist, Sorbonne Université, France). Seated from left: Yusuke Kubota (Geochemist, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan), Sonia Tikoo-Schantz (Paleomagnetist, Stanford University, USA), Yuhao Dai (Geochemist, Lund University, Sweden), Mike Widdowson (Sedimentologist/Volcanologist, University of Hull, UK), Maya Pincus (Outreach Officer, Bushwick Leaders High School, USA), Fabricio Ferreira (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO), Sharmonay Fielding (Physical Properties Specialist/Observer, University of Namibia, Namibia), Doug Cummings (Publications Specialist, IODP JRSO), Mbili Tshiningayamwe (Petrologist/Observer, University of Namibia, Namibia), Seunghee Han (Geochemist, GIST, Republic of Korea). (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_151]

Mask-free also on the rig floor – Siem personnel keeps an eye on the derrickman as he works high above. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_152]

James Zhao (Applications Developer, IODP JRSO) happily smiles at us too. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_153]

On the rig floor, the Siem Toolpusher oversees removal of a core catcher from a core barrel. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_154]

Arianna Del Gaudio (Micropaleontologist, University of Graz, Austria) deep in thought as she contemplates the classification of a foraminifer sample. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_155]

Fire drills are a must for the crew to practice for potential real emergencies. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_156]

We have been very fortunate with the weather as this sunshine shot demonstrates. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_157]

The Siem night Toolpusher has his morning coffee. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_158]

Siem Driller smiles at us. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_159]

How can you not love your food, as these smiles serve regular delicious, warm meals. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_160]

Chris Visser (Marine Electronics Technician, IODP JRSO) and Myriam Kars (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO) enjoy the special treat of the week – Mexican food. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_161]

We are sure that Fabricio Ferreira (Marine Laboratory Specialist, IODP JRSO) enjoyed the food as well. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_162]

Entier Camp Boss tops off dessert: delicious churros with chili-chocolate sauce. (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_163]

The sun sets as one thinks – week 6 is not that bad after all. (Credit: David Buchs & IODP) [Photo ID: exp391_164]

This week, we give our shore-based scientists a shout out. They work hard on data and images to produce figures and supplement the shipboard science party with their expertise as much as possible. From top left: Chun-Feng Li (Structural Geologist, Ocean College, Zhejiang University, China), Giacomo Della Valle (Sedimentologist, National Research Council Italy, Italy), Xiao-Jun Wang (Igneous Geochemist, Northwest University, China), and Rajneesh Bhutani (Petrologist, Pondicherry University, India). (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_165]

This is a part of the crew that keeps the cores coming. Thank you so much, Siem! (Credit: Sandra Herrmann, IODP JRSO) [Photo ID: exp391_166]

These cores keep the scientists happy. Proof here is Physical Properties Specialist Ethan Petrou (University of Oxford, UK). (Credit: Yuhao Dai & IODP) [Photo ID: exp391_167]