Information

Vessel:
Report (sitrep) ID:
18446
Universal time (UTC):
20:00
Australian time (AEST):
07:00
Position:
69° 16′ S, 166° 25′ E
Heading:
170 degrees (True)
Speed:
8.1 kn
Weather conditions:
Wind Speed 24 knots from 40 degrees, overcast with continuous snow
Air temperature:
−1.6 °C
Sea conditions:
Moderate seas with a low NNW swell
Sea temperature:
−1.5 °C

Comments

Yesterday we continued to search for blue whales using sonobuoys in a general SE'ly direction from the Balleny Islands. In the evening, we came across a feeding pod of 5 humpbacks, with other whales nearby and a biopsy was taken from the Tangaroa as well as fluke photos for identification purposes. The humpbacks were extremely close to the ship which was drifting and they were spy hopping, doing full rolls, tails stands and breaching. It was quite spectacular to watch. During the night, a detailed krill acoustics survey was conducted of the area where we found the humpback whales. This morning it is snowing with poor visibility and we are continuing the blue whale-sonobuoy experiment, before retracing our track back towards the Balleny Islands. The weather forecast for Monday is looking very promising for RIB and humpback work.

REGARDS:

Hully, Sarah and Nick

Map

180° 170°W 160°W 150°W 140°W 130°W 120°W 110°W 100°W 90°W 80°W 70°W 60°W 50°W 40°W 30°W 20°W 10°W 30°E 40°E 50°E 60°E 70°E 80°E 90°E 100°E 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 170°E 80°S 70°S 60°S 50°S 40°S 30°S 20°S 10°S 0°N 10°N 20°N 30°N 40°N 50°N 60°N 70°N 80°N Casey Davis Mawson Macquarie Island Heard Island Fremantle Hobart

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.

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