SAA II SITREP Voy 004-018

Hello All

We continued on our passage north deploying weather buoys and ARGO floats along the way and this morning at around 3 we altered course toward Gough Island again.

It is rainy outside with a moderate easterly wind pushing us to lean slightly to port and the confused swell making movement slightly erratic onboard.

Enjoy the public holiday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-017

Hello All

Our Southern most leg has been completed as we turned north again after supper last night, but it is only now that we are feeling the latitudes we are in with the barometer dipping to 980mb and the snow fall brought in by the strong South Easter evident to that fact.

We completed two 2000m CTD stations, several buoy deployments and several ARGO float deployments during the preceding 24 hours making use of being in a less traversed geographical location.

We are hoping to get a break in the weather at midday on the 25th to launch the second glider, but from what we can see there is something brewing to the north west that might give us a bit of a hiding on arrival day.

All the best and have a relaxing Sunday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-016

Hello All

The lull in the weather subsided as a small front came though veering the wind around to the SSE with considerable strength. During the very early hours of this morning we recovered the CPR and deployed the first SAWS weather drifting buoy shortly before altering course due west on the 50° latitude.

We will deploy another buoy after lunch today and then later tonight at supper time another one with a CTD station before altering to the north again.

Have a good Saturday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-015

Hello All

The two weeks since departing Cape Town has gone passed very quickly with many things happening.

We are making our way south and would reach our furthest most latitude, for our first buoy deployment, at the very early hours tomorrow before turning west. There is a wary lull in the weather at the moment with hardly any movement on the ship, but knowing that we are in the roaring forties where some of the worlds worst weather conditions occur makes you quite anxious. We will celebrate the good weather and Neptune's grace with a evening braai even though outside temperatures are now well below 10°C...what South Africans will do for a braai is above imagination :-).

Enjoy your Friday and the start to the weekend.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-014

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon we deployed our first float and then a 2000m CTD in the evening.

Today turned out to be quite exiting with us on station to deploy the gliders. The first glider was struck by a wave of water as the vessel slammed down on the stern of which force broke its wing. We then had to deploy our Rescue Boat in marginal conditions to recover the glider again. We reviewed our deployment strategy and deployed the second glider with success. The glider was sent down to depth and return to the surface after communication to it from the shore station. We remained on station to deploy another float and completed a CTD station. We are hoping to deploy the "clipped" glider on the north bound leg again.

Have a good end to the week.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-013

Hello All

Yesterday afternoon all the visiting scientist were flown back onboard before the vessel settled on anchor in Transvaal Bay.

We prepared the vessel for a deep sea passage and rang full away at 08:00 Z  this morning shortly after our radio schedule with the DCO.

We stopped for our first CTD only an hour after departing from the base in inclement weather conditions, but managed to hold station.

Shortly after lunch today we deployed our first ARGO float from the vessel and all went well.

Enjoy the day and all the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-012

Hello All

After afternoon tea yesterday afternoon we recovered the anchor and steam offshore until a depth of over 500 meters were reached for a CTD cast. The cast went well and we were at anchor again in Quest Bay shortly before supper.

This morning conditions were good and some extra stores were required on the island and a visit for the ship based scientists were made possible. The B206 flew passengers between 09 and 10. We then used the sheltered bay to complete our lifeboat exercise by launching the port lifeboat and giving Officer's and crew familiarization in the boats launching and operation, we did the same for the FRB.

We will remain at anchor until tea time today after which we would recover the anchor and steam to Transvaal Bay for the passenger flights back to the ship. We are planning to leave for the buoy run tomorrow morning.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-011

Hello All

We remained at anchor during the preceding 24 hours. Yesterday we dragged the anchor a short distance when the wind came up over 40 knots, but after paying out another shackle she kept well. This morning was almost windless and we managed to do a helicopter flight to the island to pick up the two SAWS personnel who would be joining us for the buoy run. We are planning to leave Wednesday on the buoy run, a day earlier than scheduled, so that we have more time in the bag for the back loading on our return should the weather be foul.

I hope you had a good start to the week.

All the best.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-010

Hello All

After completing the fuel pumping yesterday we recovered the open moor and shifted the anchor position a little further offshore with the wind predictions from the NW and SW.

Today we wanted to complete some passenger flights to the island but the gusting wind with occasional rain squalls made flying marginal and it was decided to suspend flights for the day.

If the wind direction remains we will maintain our anchorage here in Transvaal Bay.

Have a relaxing Sunday.

SAA II SITREP Voy 004-009

Hello All

I apologies for the late report, but my attention was required elsewhere.

As predicted the weather turned out perfectly yesterday and we managed to complete all cargo discharge flights with the exception of some frozens that the island can not yet take until they have repacked their fridges.

We managed to bring the ship up on her open moor and ran out the fuel hoses around lunch time. The first bunch of hoses did not pass the air pressure test, even though they were tested back in Cape Town. Luckily we had our old set from the previous vessel, but it took quite some time to recover the hoses and redeploy before we could actually start the pumping. Once the pumping started it went smoothly and around 60 000 litres were pumped to the island to complete their requirements.

All hoses and boats were recovered during twilight as the dinner bell rang, which came as a relief to many who have been up since the crack of dawn in preparations for the days activities. I commend my crew.

I hope that you had a good Saturday and wish you a even better Sunday.

_________________________