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The last full day of play yesterday was a cracker with a lot
achieved in a short amount of time. The priorities where to get the fuel
hose sorted for Macquarie Island and recover the last of the cargo that
needed to remain ashore until close to departure. The barge and an
inflatable rubber boat (IRB) were dispatched into Kista Strait, with
Field Marshall Sprunk and his 10 ft hose reel container. The wind was
ideal for this evolution with a light 3-5 knots blowing throughout the
morning. Once in position the barge crew fed the hose out to the IRB
team. Once the entire length of hose sections, nearly a kilometre long,
was out and reconfigured it was reeled back onto the hose reel. This
will save us a lot of time during the port call in Hobart when Voyage 3
hands over to Voyage 4. It will also give the Fuelling Field Marshall
some time off as he has done all three voyages, plus the Trials Voyage,
this season. You really deserve a fruit bun young mans!
Whilst this was going on the ship's crew were out testing the Aurora's
port lifeboat and Fast Rescue Craft (FRC). In the unlikely event of an
emergency, each of the ship's lifeboats can carry 75 personnel in
'relative' comfort. The crew put the boats through their paces, and 3rd
Mate James enjoyed the challenge of his first 'command' at the helm of
the lifeboat. The FRC is a 'ferrari' compared to the 'VW combi van'
lifeboat, and as such there were no shortage of crew members lined up to
give it a 'run'. After the boat drills the lifeboat was hoisted back
aboard. The boats involved in the fuel hose reconfiguration returned to
the harbour at around 1020 and we commenced cargo operations, which were
pretty much completed by 1200.
That was it for the day really, all that had to be done in the afternoon
was for the barge to take Darren and Luke out to the islands around
Mawson to finish some of their penguin survey work. With the pace off,
so to speak, and due to the large number of records already broken on
this voyage, the opportunity was taken to organise for some of the crew
and voyage support personnel to have a trip up to Gwamm. Gwamm is the
crossroads on the plateau behind Mawson where all the ice roads to a
variety of destinations meet. It also provides a spectacular viewpoint
of the Mawson environs both seaward and into the interior of Antarctica.
Looking from the bridge of the ship the plateau looks miles away, but
when you see people walking around on top of it, you realise that it is
a very steep ice wall not that far from station. To make this happen the
station flashed up two of their Hagglunds and did shuttle runs up and
down to Gwamm, ensuring that all the personnel who had been tied up with
operations for the past five days got a chance of a visit. The caterers
took great pleasure in reenacting one of the more memorable photos from
the F Deck bar, those that have sailed on the AA will know the picture I
am talking about. This experience was greatly appreciated by all aboard.
Thanks to Duk and the Mawson team for making this happen.
Whilst this was going on, the barge set sail for Walsh island with the
bios aboard. Darren and Luke's main task was to change out the flash
cards in the camera and weigh bridge systems on the three islands off
the Mawson coast. These systems were designed by AAD staff and are used
to keep an eye on penguin numbers in rockeries all around the Australian
Antarctic Territory. The weighbridges are a particularly good bit of
kit, that are placed in high traffic areas and weigh penguins as they
transit around the rockery. It was also a good opportunity for those
aboard the barge to get some good pictures of Adelies and Skuas. After
this the barge made good a course back to the harbour. The barge was
almost at the harbour, when a radio transmission was received from
George the 'Whale Whisperer', ensconsed at Gwamm, that a pod of Orcas
was transiting in Kista Strait. I don't think I have ever seen the barge
do as tight a turn around! Out it went into the strait where those
aboard were treated with a close encounter with a pod numbering around
15 to 20 Orcas, including a couple of calves. Truly breath taking! Its
amazing how the 'whale whisperer' can drum up the sightings even at a
distance.
The Mawson team used last night to have their last dinner together, so
all our personnel were returned to the ship for dinner. At the
conclusion of the Mawson dinner, the barge took about 30 people ashore
to have one last night at Mawson and by all accounts a great night was
had by all.
At the moment we are undertaking final preparations for our departure
with the 10 returning Mawson expeditioners are coming aboard, after
saying their final goodbyes. Thanks from all us aboard the AA to Duk and
the Mawson expeditioners for making this a very memorable five days!
For those that are bemoaning the lack of reports from the frontline of
the Dessert war, no need to fear they will return! Ken also informs me
that the MasterChefs have managed to locate another 24 cartons of cream,
so the drought has been avoided!
All aboard contemplating what a sensational run we have had at Mawson
and the 12 days and eight hours we have coming up in the Southern Ocean,
every day is Christmas in Antarctica!
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.