Information
Comments
cargo operations began in earnest after lunch yesterday. In all we completed 16 cargo lifts and delivered 120.62 tonnes to Casey before shutting down operations at 2000 sharp.
Today operations were underway again with the swift (an aluminium hulled inflatable rubber boat with two outboard motors) alongside to begin personnel transfers at 0800.
All of the cargo is now cleared from the front hatch lids which are now open, allowing us to access the first heavy lift; the Caterpillar 966 front end loader which weighs around 25MT. This we hope will be followed by a slightly heavier D6 bulldozer. The planets have aligned giving us almost perfect conditions for these heavy loads, which require calm seas, light winds and a rising tide.
The Casey Station crew are looking after the round trip expeditioners with tours around station and an overnight trip to Wilkes station where one of the round trippers wintered in 1967 as a physicist. This will be the first time he has returned since then!
Tomorrow the weather is expected to deteriorate towards the evening, so at some point towards the end of the day we will head to sea for a couple of days to weather out the worst of the storm (we are expecting winds at the anchorage to reach 40-60Kts).
Cheers,
Andy, Vic and Eloise
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.