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After two days of 30-40 knot winds the anemometer finally
started ton indicate a downward trend late yesterday morning. With the
wind finally dropping below 20 knots, the team swung into action to get
the ship into Horseshoe Harbour and get operations underway. Once the
ship had come to rest in a steady position off the entrance to the
harbour, first off the ship was the AA2 workboat, which we used to get
all our watercraft operators ashore to crew Station's inflatable rubber
boats. Whilst this was going on the station was a hive of activity as
the mooring procedure pretty much involves everyone on station.
The ship entered the harbour at 1222 in light winds and with the whole
station watching. Standing on the bridge it was quite a sight as 3893
tonnes of orange painted Aussie steel manoeuvred into position in
confined waters with the rocks of West Arm only 25 metres off the stern
of the ship. There really isn't that much room too manoeuvre a 94.71 m ship and even less
margin for error. The complex part of the operation is holding the ship
in position whilst the mooring lines are run ashore. Captain Muz kept
the ships head into the wind, whilst the crew lowered the first of the
lines to the team in the inflatable rubber boats (IRB). The first lines
ashore were the polypropylene ropes which the IRBs delivered to shore.
Expeditioners, decked out in dry suits, waded out in the -1 degree water
to take the line from the IRBs and secure them to the shore side
bollards.
After the polyprop lines were secured, it was time to send the heavy
duty wire rope in. By 1409 we were all fast and securely moored at Mawson, with
nine lines ashore. By 1422 we had recovered our boat crews, swung the
barge outboard and commenced cargo operations. After two days steaming
up and down, the rush to get of the ship was akin to a stampede. The AA2
was used to start getting the priority resupply team ashore to flash up
the cranes. Once they were on the beach, Maso led the team through a
safety induction and the resupply beagn in earnest. First ashore, as is
always the case, was the all the station mail, priority cargo and a
smattering of fresh fruit and veggies. All in all a great start to our
visit, and a big thanks to the Mawson and Aurora crews for all their
efforts during the mooring operation.
The invasion of Mawson has begun with 19 expeditioners ashore, almost
doubling the station population. All the round trip project personnel
are ashore and getting straight into their work. It also looks like Duk
and the Mawson crew have rolled out the red carpet for all and sundry
with activities planned in advance for those not involved in the
resupply and refuelling. Speaking of the Mawson crew, two of their party
remain ensconced on Bechervaise Island, which is two miles west of
Mawson. I asked Darren, to provide a little background info on the
project work they are undertaking:
"The Bechervaise Island penguin program is a long running monitoring
program established in 1989. The goal of the program is to monitor the
population dynamics of Adelie penguins breeding on the islands in Kista
straight, especially Bechervaise Island, located 2 km west of Mawson
station. Throughout the summer, biologists Darren Southwell and Luke
Einoder measured population parameters in Adelies, such as population
size, the number of breeding birds, foraging duration and breeding
success. This data will be compared with other Adelie penguin monitoring
sites in Antarctica at the end of the season.
To continually monitor the Adelies, we have to live on Bechervaise
Island for about 6 weeks, when the sea ice is unsafe to travel to and
from Mawson station. After a number of consecutively poor breeding years, it's great this
season to have almost 1750, healthy, well-fed chicks occupying the
island. This is almost a record in the 20-odd years of study, most
likely due to the relatively early break up of the sea ice and
availability of krill within the foraging range of the island. In the
coming few days, we plan to select a few of the biggest, healthiest
chicks, and attach satellite trackers to their backs. Hopefully, this
will allow us to monitor the movement of these chicks over the next year
once they leave the island in late February.
Our work has not focused just on Adelie penguins; the island also
provides a home for breeding snow petrels. Over the last few months,
we've closely monitored the progress of 140 snow petrel nests to
estimate breeding success. At last count, 58% of snow petrels who
attempted to breed produced a chick. Further monitoring of these nests
in subsequent years will tell us if this is relatively successful or
not, and whether good breeding years for snow petrels coincide with
those for Adelie penguins at Bechervaise Island."
Thanks Darren, a fruit bun will be waiting for you, but only after you
have had a shower!!
I have to report that after today, I can no longer file reports from the
frontline of the Dessert War. After the view from the mirror in the gym
this morning, in the words of the Enterprises Chief Engineer Scotty
'Cap'n she canna' handle any more....". In the interests of maintaining
my BMI within Antarctic medical requirements as well as still being able
to fit into my work clobber, I am retreating. Having said that, last
night Ken let fly with a sensational rice pudding cake. As my 'last
dessert' it was a real treat! Well done matey! It is now up to the rest
of the judging panel to provide me with reviews and frontline
dispatches, which I will dutifully pass on.
All aboard enjoying the sights and sounds of Mawson as well as getting
ready to undertake refuelling operations.
Regards
Rob, Simon and George
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.