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We are getting closer to our destination. We are likely to reach the fast ice sometime tonight or early tomorrow morning. We are currently planning to fly key personnel to station using AS350 B3 helicopters. The ship will stop for about 3 hours to undertake this operation. Once completed the ship will break into the fast ice to the position where we can ‘park up’ in preparation for resupply.
Roads on the fast ice have been constructed to a certain point waiting for our arrival. Once we have ‘parked’ the roads can be continued to the ship’s position and a cargo lay down area next to the ship prepared. An over ice resupply is effectively like unloading and loading next to a wharf except our wharf is made of ice. The ice is constantly monitored to ensure it remains safe to drive trucks, loaders and other vehicles on. Safety is always the highest priority in all we do in Antarctica and sub Antarctic.
Within in the first day of our arrival most on board will have moved to Davis.
There will be several Davis personnel staying on the ship until there is an available bed for them on station. Resupply, accommodation, rosters etc is a bit like tetris or a 1,000 piece jigsaw – eventually all the pieces end up where they should be with the end result a safe and efficient resupply and handover of the station to the incoming expeditioners.
Cheers Leanne and Mick
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.