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It seems fitting that the last sitrep that we type whilst in sight of Macquarie Island is going to be about the weather. The resupply and refuelling operations that we conduct there are heavily influenced by the weather. Our watercraft, aircraft and personnel are all restricted by wind, swell, wave height, temperature and visibility. The combination of these factors can make a day at work either very comfortable, or alternately very uncomfortable. For each of these parameters there is a point at which we shut down our operations and simply sit and wait for conditions to improve. We had one of these days in the first half of th resupply and today the weather has truly turned it on for us, with the ship experiencing force 10 gusts of 60 knots even whilst tucked in the lee of the island away from the worst of the swell. As we have concluded our operations here now we would normally have commenced our transit back to Hobart, however we are awaiting an improvement in the sea state between here and Hobart before we leave. The weather ahead of us is very rough and would not be a comfortable trip for any of us - it would be quite likely to slow our progress so much that we would arrive near the same time as we will by waiting here for the weather to ease.
In preparation for our departure tonight we completed an emergency muster drill this morning, but thankfully the Master of the vessel had us muster at our alternate location inside the ship rather than on the helideck as conditions outside on the decks were not pleasant. This drill reinforces the sound of the emergency muster signal (the bells or whistle are sounded with 7 short and 1 long tone) and ensures that we have the appropriate clothing prepared. It lets us practice moving through the ship and also checks that we know how to fit our lifejackets and that they have a whistle and functioning light. Expeditioners have also spent the afternoon stowing their cabins to ensure that things stay put once we head for Hobart.
Life on board has quickly settled into a pattern of movies and presentations in between meals. Many people have also been taking this last chance with the ship being relatiely steady to complete their final reports for supervisors. Typing and reading from a screen may soon become more challenging as we commence our transit home.
We would like to wish Jacque and the 2015 Macquarie Island team all the best for a safe and amazing year on the island.
REGARDS: Nicki and Mike
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.