Day 23 : 31 December 2010

Hello All

And there we go...the last day of the year. What a year it was, with us hosting the world cup and DEA starting the construction of their new Antarctic Supply and Research Vessel. The future is exciting and I wish you all the best and success for 2011.

We completed our passenger flights yesterday afternoon and maintained a running standby off Penguin Bukta. This morning early we hoped that the swell would have been blown down enough for us to place the bow onto the shelf and start with the fuel pumping, but it was not to be our lucky day. We tried various positions against the shelf but ended up ramming the ice shelf due to a 1.5 meter swell.

It is times like this that you wish that there is more sea ice around since it takes away the swell, but we are open to all the forces of the ocean with most of the sea ice to the north of us already melted. We will try again next year...:-) (tomorrow).

Enjoy the last bit of 2010 and good luck with 2011.

Day 22 : 30 December 2010

Hello All

The normal standby routine yesterday afternoon and last night with the wind slowly veering and decreasing in strength. Passenger bound for SANAE were getting very excited at the promise of improved flying conditions at day break.

The day started early for us with the inspection of the refuelling area against the shelf at 06:00. After placing the bow on the shelf I could see that refuelling was not an option with the ship instantly slamming into the shelf and breaking off some outcrops. The swell estimated at about 1 meter is making our work against the shelf  impossible. The conditions for flying was good though and we continued with the passenger flights with the first two reaching the SANAE station before lunch.

We are hoping that the more southerly wind will flatten the swell induced by the easterly gales, but will have to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Have a good day.

Day 21 : 29 December 2010

Hello all

Yesterday and this morning we remained in the claws of quite a nasty easterly gale. To make matters worse the storm broke away large pieces of bay ice from Admiral Byrd Bukta which came screaming past us on their way to the west. This combined with poor visibility made life interesting on the bridge for us.

The wind eased about 5 knots through the night and should dissipate slowly as the day progress. Tomorrow morning at day break we should be ready for the fuel pumping operations and perhaps be able to fly some of the pax off to SANAE.

The temperature is expected to drop below -10°C tomorrow morning with the wind slowly veering around to the South bringing in the colder air over the continent. The report from the SANAE base is that the sky is slowly clearing and the winds easing to around 16 knots at 06:00 this morning.

Hold thumbs for our operation tomorrow and hopefully my next noon report will carry a bit more progression.

Have a good mid week.

Day 20 : 28 December 2010

Hello All

After our routine afternoon CTD close to Penguin Bukta we departed on a slow steam to investigate the other side of Blaskimen Ice Rise known as RSA Bukta. The shelf is known to be more unstable there and riddled with crevasses, but usually good bay ice can be found in the protection of the Bukta.

Winds were gusting well over 30 knots with the sky still overcast. We did find bay ice in RSA Bukta, but it was unsuitable for a wind stemming and we decided to return to Penguin where we awaited the arrival of the drivers with the CAT train. The train arrived at the Penguin Bukta at 02:42 this morning and immediately made shifting the tanktainers into position their first priority.

Refuelling operations was not an option for us this morning with the wind constantly over 30 knots diagonally across the shelf producing quite a wind wave and blowing snow off the shelf edge. We fetched the drivers by chopper in the morning to allow them a well deserved lunch and a warm bed to rest in.

The forecasts are indicating an improvement in weather from tomorrow afternoon onwards, so we are preparing for that.

Have a nice day.

Day 19 : 27 December 2010

Hello All

Still no weather break coming our way with visibility generally poor to very poor due to blowing snow. It is predicted that the easterly weather will veer to the South East and then to the South by the 30th, lets hold thumbs.

We had an opportunity to inspect last year's shelf area for possibly using it again this year for the refuelling operations, it was as good as any.

In the mean time the more mundane running of the mill for the ship staff and some more waiting for the anxious passengers waiting for the break to get to their base and start their work.

This morning early the second engineer's wife saw it fit to make a very nice snowman on the deck, a job well done. Photo enclosed.

Have a good day.

Day 18 : 26 December 2010

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon we went for our Christmas afternoon drive after lunch when conditions were still not flyable. We are expecting some heavier weather on the 28th and 29th and wanted to see what the bay ice conditions were looking like in Muskeg Bukta. No bay ice was visible in Otter Bukta. We will probably use Admiral Byrd Bukta as a hideaway when the easterly storm comes through.

Today conditions remain rather grim for flying with visibility improving to at most 1NM. The CAT train arrived at SANAE last night and left for Penguin Bukta this morning. If the conditions allow we should be able to start with the refuelling tomorrow.

There is a massive (20NM) iceberg rounding Troll Tunga at the moment..."rumble rumble, hear comes the judge"... It is not yet detectable by radar, but we will keep a good eye on its movement.

We wish you a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

Day 17 : 25 December 2010

Hello All

Merry Christmas to you all. Enjoy the day.

Yesterday afternoon flights were suspended for the day shortly before supper. This morning conditions were unchanged and even a bit worse with visibility moderate to poor with overcast skies and poor contrast and definition. Now at noon visibility was down to a couple of hundred meters due to fog.

We enjoyed a very nice Christmas lunch together with the catering department again going beyond call of duty. The tables were set up with crackers, nuts, sweets and even Christmas hats. I think many a full stomach will call for a little afternoon "napette" to settle things.

The scenery is quite amazing with the sea freezing around the ship with all the initial stages of sea ice freezing visible. Grease ice, Shuga and even some nilas. The water temperature is not really low enough to induce freezing but I think the wind chill over the top is assisting the process.

Have a splendid Christmas day from a completely white out Antarctica.

Day 14 : 22 December 2010

Hello All

Sjoe, we were so lucky with the ice yesterday and had almost a full day of cargo off loading against the shelf ice on the North Point at Nuemayer.

We were almost forced to decide on whether or not to continue with work as a fog bank lingered about half a mile to seaward, but luckily it eventually dissipated. We continued with cargo work and discharged most of the heavy lifts and even backloaded some containers.

The vessel was eventually forced of her berth against the shelf by encroaching ice consisting of broken pieces of bay ice and multiyear ice mostly of 3m thickness. Luckily we had a nice escape route provided by the grounded icebergs to seaward of us.

We stayed in open water for the night, but could not regain our berth against the ice shelf this morning due to it being compacted by ice. We waited it out and did some more scientific work during this morning hoping that the wind will shift southerly to blow the sea ice out to sea.

We only need a 24 hour window to discharge the remainder of the cargo. Friday a storm is predicted for the area with 25-30 knots wind from the East, so hopefully we will get our break before then.

Day 16 : 24 December 2010

Hello All

One leg of this voyage has been completed when all the cargo went ashore at Nuemayer through the day yesterday. We came off the shelf shortly after nine last night and had about 2 hours of thick sea ice to negotiate before finally reaching open water for our passage to RSA Bukta.

On arrival here today we were met by completely overcast conditions with very poor contrast and definition, which is not at all what the helicopter pilots were hoping for. For now we will just have to wait and see when the conditions will be flyable, but the forecasts are not looking to good for the next couple of days. I believe we will all spend our Christmas onboard together....the more the merrier.

We wish you a splendid evening.

Day 15 : 23 December 2010

Hello All

Yesterday was quite frustrating for us not being able to stem the shelf with the see ice encroaching the shelf. The Polarstern invited us for a get together on the shelf before they leave, which we could only observe from a distance in envy. Time was not completely lost however as we made productive use of it by preparing the next lot of cargo, taking iron samples and completing a CTD dip.

It was a very nice gesture of the Polarstern to round the vessel on her way out on her next scientific leg. A courtesy sequence of blows were exchanged by both vessels on the ships horn and even though we can not plough the same ice fields as them I believe we had the loudest "hooter" :-).

The wind swung around through the evening to a steady SW'ly, which we were hoping for. By this morning 05:00 sufficient sea room was opened up against the shelf for us to work safely. After ploughing through some vicious pieces of broken bay ice we managed to get through to the ice shelf. At first we made an attempt to use the same ice berth as the Polarsten used, but we were soon chased out of there by large floes. We found a suitable spot again just around the corner on North Point where we are currently working cargo. We are doing well and if all goes to plan we will head to RSA Bukta through the night for passenger flights to SANAE tomorrow.

Have a nice day.

Day 13 : 21 December 2010

Hello All

Akta Bay has provided us with many exciting challenges in the past 24 hours, but we have managed to succeed in our quest and are currently discharging cargo against the ice shelf slightly to the west of the North Point on the Western side of Akta Bay.

The bay ice we pushed up against yesterday afternoon was found unsuitable due to some extensive cracks en route to the ramp in the shelf. It was decided to "reckie" a route via helicopter over the shelf ice to join up with the set route between Nuemayer and SANAE. The afternoon was spent trying to find a suitable spot against the ice shelf to discharge the cargo.

The day then became too long and it was decided to revisit the site in the morning and start fresh. We decided to exit the bay since some heavy pieces of broken bay ice and multi year sea ice was approaching us and closing the bay up behind us.

During the night we ran back to North Point since the area at the shelf was opening up, which ended to be first price for us and where we are currently.

Have a nice day.

Day 12 : 20 December 2010

Hello All

Our passage to Akta yesterday was without any major challenges. The crossing the line ceremony was completed during the afternoon, with many quite delighted that it is over and done.

We rang end of ice passage as we made our visual landfall of the Northern Angler at Akta Bay last night at 20:00. We scouted the shelf and compacted sea ice around it and decided to run stand-by for the night.

The Polar Stern was kind enough this morning to break up some of the heavier ice to allow us a easier passage to our intended discharging position on the ice shelf before settling in for a discharge position of her own. We entered the compacted strip of ice skirting the shelf and went up to the shelf with a bit of effort, but it was short lived as we realised that we would not be able to stem the heavy stream of ice flowing past the ice shelf like a river.

We then exited the ice and headed to the eastern side of the bay where we fought through some ice to get to a shore lead and some good bay ice to stick our nose into. For now this will be our haven as we sit around the table to discuss our options.

Have a good start to the week.

Day 11 : 19 December 2010

Hello All

Smooth running for use during the preceding 24hrs, with us only slowing down for short periods due to fog or crossing some thin bands of drift ice.

I must admit that it will be very nice to have some sun shining through, since we have been mainly experiencing overcast conditions with reduced visibility due to fog, mist or snow.

We crossed the Antarctic Circle yesterday afternoon at 15:17 in position 66°33.3'S 000°08.4'W.

We anticipate the auspicious meeting with the King and Queen this afternoon, many will quiver and suffer the ice cold water in sacrifice of our free passage into the Polar Circle. We wish them luck.

We will rendezvous with the Polar Stern at 08:00 tomorrow morning when both vessels are expected to make their arrival at Akta Bukta in search of a good ice shelf position for discharging cargo. From satellite images it seems that there will be about half a mile worth of compacted floes to battle through before the ice shelf can be reached. Hold thumbs!!

Day 10 : 18 December 2010

Hello All

We exited the pack ice and entered a large polynia at 22:00 last night and have made very good speed since then. We now only come across bands of drift ice that is easily avoided. There is hardly a breath of air outside with the temperature a comfortable +1.5°C.

I am glad to see that the barograph gas slowly recovered after it fell off the bottom of the drum bottoming out at 965mb. The similar colour of the overcast sky and calm ocean provides little contrast and the horizon is not easily distinguished.

We still pass plenty of icebergs, bergy bits and growlers, which are easily detected by Radar and visually since, other than the odd snow squall, visibility has not been poor.

The atmosphere onboard is slowly getting electric with tension building for the ferocious arrival of the Herald from King Neptune's Court, who will later tonight announce the arrival of the King and the Queen, expected tomorrow afternoon...we pray for the mercy of those whom have never crossed the Polar Ring.

Festive Season Greetings

Day 9 : 17 December 2010

Hello All

We are now in the thick of things with the ice extending six tenths, mainly first year ice of between 50cm and 1m. The going is good with the ship moving through the ice like a hot knife through butter. From time to time however careful alterations must be made to avoid the multiyear ice inclusions which are ridged and hard. Our average speed of 8.2 knots bears testimony to the condition of the pack ice...lets hold thumbs that it stays that way!

We altered a bit more to the South East upon reaching 61°S to follow the satellite image's easiest route trough the pack. If all goes well and we maintain our good speed we should be in a large polynia later tonight which, according to the satellite image, will take us to the shelf.

Have a good Friday.

Day 8 : 16 December 2010

Hello All

During the course of the afternoon we came across bands of drift ice which was not easily sighted during times of poor visibility caused by fog. This made us decide to bring up the Iron Sampler before it gets knocked of the davit by a piece of ice.

Later, shortly after supper we reduced our speed due to the fog closing us in and with the winds still moderately NW, with a couple of white horses, radar detection became limited again.

We maintained a lower speed through the night, but at 06:30 this morning we rang end of ocean passage and start of ice passage with bands of thicker drift ice being encounter.

We are still quite a bit north of the ice pack, but we expect to enter it by later this afternoon.

Day 7 : 15 December 2010

Hello All

We are now properly in the iceberg belt with 37 icebergs detected by radar in the vicinity of the vessel during the preceding 24 hours. At times we were forced to slow down again due to fog or due to darkness or both.

We retarded the ships clocks to now run on GMT, which we will do for the remainder of the voyage until our return leg.

We were expecting gale forced winds last night with the isobars of the passing front relatively close to one another, but it was rather moderate until shortly after tea this morning when the second front approached pushing the northerly winds to gusts of up to 40 knots. The white horses produced from this makes it a bit more difficult to spot that well rounded growler.

Have a nice day.

Day 6 : 14 December 2010

Hello All

The cluster of icebergs we came across yesterday and last night led to us slowing down during the hours of darkness between 22:00 and 03:00 ships time. Visibility was also poor and mostly less than 1NM due to low cloud and fog.

Even with the slow down we managed a respectable 9.9 knots at noon with the Northerly winds pushing us along nicely this morning.

We altered course to due south when we reached the Greenwich Meridian shortly before breakfast and we intend staying on it until the sea ice force us into another direction.

Tonight we will bring the ships clocks to GMT.

Have a splendid day.

Day 5 : 13 December 2010

Hello All

We were very surprised last night to spot our first iceberg at a very northerly latitude of 46°S. We came across some more this morning...what does this mean? Why are the icebergs so far north this year?

The westerlies are pushing a bit more now, but it is still all very moderate with us shipping only minimal spray over the starboard gunwale.

This morning a helicopter safety briefing was held and all systems tested and this afternoon we are looking forward to some of the presentations from all the various professionals onboard.

Day 4 : 12 December 2010

Hello All

The barometer fell by an impressive 21mb over the last 24 hours, which led to stronger NW'ly winds with poor visibility mainly caused by prefrontal fog.

With the wind just forward of the beam we are still maintaining an impressive 10.5kn with swell still low.

We will be getting into bergy waters soon, but hope to have perpetual day by the time we do!.

Have a relaxing Sunday.

Day 3 : 11 December 2010

Hello All

We are being questioned by all, wanting to know if we are going in the correct direction, since the weather has just been so splendid with the vessel moving easily to long swells and hardly any wind.

My thoughts....enjoy it while you can.

We maintained a good speed throughout with the outside temperature slowly decreasing past 10°C. Between 12 and 16 yesterday afternoon the seawater temperature dropped by 4°C from 18°C to 14°C and is now at 11.6°C....conclusion....we must be going in the right direction☺

Day 2 : 09 December 2010

Hello All

TGIF (Thank God its Friday)...not that it really makes any difference out at sea, but at least our scenery keeps on changing :-).

We are still running smoothly with the southerly winds freshening a bit, but still rather moderate taking into consideration our geographical position.

We averaged 10.4 knots and are hoping to do so for the next couple of days with the weather prognosis being favourable.

We wish a relaxing weekend.

Leaving Cape Town for Antarctica 08 December 2010

Hello All

We left Cape Town on the penultimate voyage for this vessel to the Antarctic yesterday. The atmosphere on the quay was magnificent and so was the weather.

We managed to complete the required briefings and musters quickly after which most took time to secure their cabins while others remained horizontal trying to overcome their sea sickness.

The weather outlook is good for now. This morning we pushed up some more on the main engines and altered our course onto the SW'ly leg of the Goodhope Transect line.

Enjoy your day.