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We are currently 'stooging' around near Mawson waiting for an opportunity to move closer to transfer expeditioners ship to shore for briefings and inductions. The ship is covered in thick snow and it continues to snow with poor visibility so until conditions improve greatly operations will be unable to start. This is what happens in Antarctica – we are reliant on the weather playing the game to conduct any operations. Mawson is experiencing pretty much the same conditions as the ship. It is a strange sensation sitting at my computer listening to Cold Chisel as the ship gently rocks – it is very soothing.
It is not all sitting around and waiting. Yesterday was cabin cleaning day. On board we are responsible for looking after ourselves and before we arrive at any port cabins are thoroughly cleaned and scrubbed by their occupants. This is in preparation for new arrivals (in this case Mawson who will be travelling to Hobart with us). Those staying at Mawson also packed up their cabin baggage which is currently sitting in the heli hangar waiting to be sent ashore.
Our watercraft operators and refuelling personnel along with voyage management have been undertaking final preparations for commencement of operations. Being as prepared as possible allows weather windows to be maximised when they occur.
The sitreps are to give everyone a taste of what has been happening on board during the day but as Mawson (UTC+5) is 6 hours behind Hobart (UTC+11) I am essentially letting you know what happened the day before. I start writing the sitreps just before smoko (morning tea) which begins at 10am local time. So if some of the timings sound a little odd, that is why.
The quiz night last night was great fun. 5 teams battled it out for supremacy with 'Soft Serve' the victors. The adjudicators faced some robust pleading from participants to try and change decisions on answers – this worked on occasions but generally the judges remained steadfast. A big thanks to our voyage management trainee and Mawson Station Leader for putting this together and giving us all a good laugh and taking the banter with such good humour.
Cheers
Leanne, Simon and Amy
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.