Information

Report (sitrep) ID:
18697
Universal time (UTC):
05:00
Australian time (AEST):
16:00
Position:
66° 28′ S, 82° 26′ E
Heading:
282
Speed:
0.3 kn
Distance in last 24 hours:
152 NM
Weather conditions:
Overcast, blowing snow. Poor surface and horizon definition, visibility <400 m. Easterly wind, 45 gusting 65 knots.
Air temperature:
−3.7 °C
Sea conditions:
calm
Sea temperature:
−1.8 °C

Comments

How quickly things can change. Yesterday afternoon saw us all up on the bridge or outside with cameras, enjoying the view as the ship charged through the outermost fringes of the sea-ice zone. Pancake and grease ice became larger floes, brightly coloured with algae. Huge 'bergs hosted many hundreds of birds, that flew into the air and surrounded the ship. Our course took us through waters seldom travelled, and near Pingvin Island, marked "existence doubtful" on our chart. We deviated slightly to prove, or disprove, its existence. A large 'berg on the horizon had us fooled for a while, but only a few miles from its charted position, nothing island-like to be seen. Two hours later, darkness overtook us, and the ice conditions became exponentially more challenging. In fact in the last 10 hours we've only managed 27 nautical miles to the south-southeast. With bad visibility and heavy ice conditions, we're resigned to drifting with the pack for the moment, hoping the strong easterly winds will assist in opening the ice between the coast and us. Cunning plans for our early arrival have been shelved...

REGARDS
Doug, George & Barbara

Map

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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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