QUESTION:
How much do the lifeboats cost? How many people can fit in the lifeboat?
What kind of food to they have on the boat? and How many people can go 
on an expedition?

              FROM -- Mrs. Bowles 4th grade
                      McKinley Elementary School
                      Kenosha, WI


ANSWERS from Alan Hickey, Aboard the RV Polar Duke
             Sun, 9 Feb 1997 18:38:59 +0000 (GMT)


Q: How much do the lifeboats cost?

A. Each lifeboat costs approximately $200,000.00 There are two aboard and are
   very specialized pieces of equipment that we count on during an emergency.
   Fortunately we've never had to use them other than for drills. 



Q. How many people can fit in the lifeboat?

A. Fifty people can fit in each lifeboat.


Q. What kind of food to they have on the boat?

A.  The food is varied and consists of meat, fish, poultry, other dairy
products, cereals, juices, soda, fruits and vegetables.  Our home port in
Chile is Punta Arenas, which has many fishing boats so we do buy a lot of
seafood for the ship.  This includes items like scallops, king crab and
various types of fish.  The Chief Steward is Norwegian and the cook is
Chilean.  This gives our food an international flavor that appeals to the
many nationalities aboard. 


Q. How many people can go on an expedition?

A. The Polar Duke can carry up to 23 scientists and 16 officers/support 
staff for a cruise.  That is the number of people we presently have 
aboard during our biggest cruise of the year.