SAA II Final SITREP Voy 004

Hello All

We recovered the CPR last night shortly before midnight to conclude the scientific observations for the voyage.

We made radar landfall of Cape Town around midnight at 90 miles and shortly before dawn we gave port control 2 hours notice after which we were instructed to wait in the small anchorage until their shift change has been completed. EOP was rung at 07:00 and 2 Pilots boarded the vessel at 07:48 as we proceeded toward the harbour entrance.

Our first line was sent ashore at 08:18 and we were all fast at 08:42 with the pilots disembarked.

After immigration and department formalities were completed all passengers were disembarked and all their luggage discharged. The 2 Starlight helicopters were also flown off and all their gear discharged.

It was a very good voyage and all objectives were met, thanks to all.

The vessel is scheduled to sail to Antarctica for the annual SANAE relief voyage on the 6th of December 2012.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-034

Hello All

We advanced clocks last night to GMT + 2 to come in line with South African time.

Conditions are still amazing and we certainly can not complain about the sea we have had from TDC to CT. This morning was taken up by some drills and meetings and this afternoon we will also have our pre-arrival Group Leaders meeting.

Our ETA remains 07:00 SAST tomorrow the 11th of October 2012. Depending on pilot and tug availability I would imagine we should be alongside and tied up by 08:30, after which immigration and customs formalities will take place.

All the best and see you tomorrow.

SAA II Voy 004-033

Hello All

The only operational activity that has been completed in the preceding 24 hours is to recover, reset and redeploy the CPR. The CPR cartridge is refreshed every 500 Miles. For those interested, it is a device that is towed behind the vessel and is collecting plankton samples as we steam along. CPR (Continues Plankton Recovery).

Tonight we will do another hour's advance on out clocks to come in line with SAST.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-032

Hello All

We spotted quite a view pods of whales yesterday still in very good weather conditions and made very good speed all the way.

Last night we advanced clocks by one hour to GMT + 1 and will again on Tuesday night to come in line with SAST.

Enjoy the start of you week and all the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-031

Hello All

We are still making very good way and from time to time we are wondering if we are going the correct way since it feels like we are sailing in the tropics....should not talk to early.

This morning we recovered the CPR to change the cartridge and used that time to dump the island Sagina.

Have relaxing Sunday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-030

Hello All

We left yesterday in moderate conditions, but the swell remain low.

We are steaming nicely along now with conditions even more improved today.

We will be at the Pilot Station at 07:00SAST on the 11th of October 2012.

Enjoy the weekend and all the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-029

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon we continued with the transfer of passengers visiting the island by boat in very good weather conditions. We remained at anchor for the entire time.

This morning weather was not quite as nice, but we managed to send some passengers ashore for a lunch with the Tristan Administrator while we were working luggage lifts from the barges to the vessel.

We should be full away this afternoon after flying all the Tristan passengers on.

Enjoy the start to your weekend.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-028

Hello All

We sailed from Gough Island yesterday in quite good weather, but the beam swell gave the vessel a lazy roll resulting in some preferring to lie down than stand up.

In very good weather conditions we joined the "Baltic Trader" in the anchorage in Edinburgh Roads at Tristan da Cunha very early this morning. We prepared to launch our FRB and Workboats to run in some cargo nets and passengers for a visit to the island. The helicopter was employed to collect some personnel ashore for the repair of a VHF aerial in the mountain.

We would probably remain at anchor here until we depart tomorrow night.

Have a good day.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-027

Hello All

Yesterday after completing the flight operations we went offshore a bit to run test deployments on the UCTD system, which turned out very successful. We then proceded to the Quest Bay anchorage and was brought up at 14:30.

This morning the anchor was aweigh shortly after sun rise to make way for Transvaal Bay to complete the last of the luggage lifts and passenger flights to the vessel. All was done by 09:00 in the morning as we made our way around the island slowly while settling in and securing the vessel for a sea passage. We then conducted a emergency and boat muster while ringing full away for Tristan da Cunha at 09:48. It seems that the year team is quite sad to leave behind there home for a year, but they are very happy to finally have some fresh fruit again.

We will be at Tristan at first light tomorrow and should be there until Friday evening before heading for Cape Town.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-026

Hello All

We dropped anchor again in Quest Bay yesterday afternoon and stayed at anchor for the night to westerly weather.

This morning the island completed their "chicken run" and we prepared for cargo flying. We started with back loads at tea time and shortly after 11 this morning 4 passenger flights were completed from the island to the ship with 20 people boarding.

We are conducting some scientific equipment test this afternoon and will go back to anchor in Quest Bay for the evening.

Tomorrow will be our final flights onboard after which we will leave for Tristan da Cunha.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-025

Hello All

We brought the visiting passengers to the island back on board yesterday afternoon and left Transvaal Bay for Quest bay. We did not go to anchor due to the wind direction and sat offshore in the bay on DP for the night.

This morning we steamed back to Transvaal Bay early in preperation for the days cargo flying operations. The island took some time in the morning to prepare the lifts for flying. We started with the back loading shortly after 9 and completed all the planned cargo before 11:00 with 25 lifts back loaded. The operation went very smooth with the lifts at times dropped on the flight deck within 2 minutes of each other. We are on our way to Quest Bay now to anchor for the remainder of the day. Tomorrow we would complete the final back loads and most of the passenger flights.

Have a good start to the week.

All the best.