[primax]

Having sequencing equipment on ship is undesireable.

There are practically no scenarios where the effort of making such equipment seaworthy is worth doing, compared to putting samples on ice and waiting until back in port to test.

If something was absolutely urgent it could be transferred to a helicopter. But I can't imagine any scenario that this ship would need that for.

[DoctorOetker]

I remember when I was studying physics, the professors kept reiterating that one doesn't study science to get rich, often lamenting the miniscule budgets assigned to science compared to other "priorities".

None of them mentioned the army of status-quo chearleaders flat-out denying desirability of cost-effective tools. The cost of just 1 such helicopter trip might suffice for the sequencing and associated equipment...

[primax]

To say that you must have no idea how cheap helicopter flight is now, and how expensive lab equipment of that caliber is.

Please pop several pegs forward or back on the Dunning Kruger chart please.