Expedition MSM66 was proposed to conduct research in the northern and western Baffin Bay on the Lancaster Sound trough mouth fan (LSTMF) and on the shelf of Baffin Island. For Canadian water in Baffin Bay navigation restriction limit the access to certain areas depending on the ice class of the vessel. RV Maria S. Merian was only allowed to enter the area east of Baffin Island only after the 10 th of August. Therefore, before this date, research in the northern Baffin Bay was conducted. The work programme of expedition MSM55 included hydroacoutstic survey, water column sampling, plankton sampling and geological sampling (geo-stations).