Brian Griffiths: called back to the sea Biological oceanographer Brian Griffith officially retired from CSIRO in 2010. But, with an impressive ocean-voyaging record behind him, it's no surprise the sea lured him back. Here, Brian talks to ECOS about playing soccer on sea ice, and his recent work on the technical design team for RV Investigator , Australia's new marine research vessel that's due for completion in 2013. Brian Griffiths at CSIRO's dock facilities in Hobart, next to Australia's largest marine research vessel, the Southern Surveyor -- soon to be superseded by the RV Investigator, which he helped design. Credit: CSIRO What aspects of your career do you think have prepared you for your work on the RV Investigator ? I was involved in the conversion of Southern Surveyor , Australia's current marine research vessel. I have also sailed on Southern Surveyor and before that Sprightly and Courageous , as well as a couple of research trips on the French vessel, Marion du Fresne , and a number of voyages on Aurora Australis -- Australia's Antarctic flagship -- among other ocean research journeys. What are some of your more memorable voyages? Probably the most memorable day was during a Marion Dufresne voyage in the Kerguelen Islands in the sub-Antarctic. The research part of the trip was finished. The scientific crew were taken about 10 kilometres up from the harbour, dropped on the beach and told 'If you're not back at the wharf by 5:00, we'll pick you up in October'.