Information

Report (sitrep) ID:
19892
Universal time (UTC):
01:00
Australian time (AEST):
12:00
Position:
65° 23′ S, 109° 42′ E
Heading:
270
Speed:
2.0 kn
Distance in last 24 hours:
69 NM
Weather conditions:
East 12kts of wind. Overcast, flat light, poor surface and horizon definition.
Air temperature:
0.2 °C
Sea conditions:
Smooth
Sea temperature:
−1.8 °C

Comments

The weather was kind, allowing us to continue cargo right through until midnight, Christmas night, when the last load was onboard. By 1am we had the barge and twin engine Swift on deck and were farewelling Casey, heading north into Vincennes Bay.

Today we celebrated Christmas with the most amazing spread of food created by our amazing and tireless galley team and stewards; crayfish, prawns, roast turkey, pork and home cooked ham, Christmas pudding and Christmas cake were just some of the yummy choices.

We are currently in heavy ice battling our way west in the hope it becomes more passable and allows us to reach open water to then head north through the pack.

It takes a huge effort to do a resupply, and to coordinate so many various factors like the barge, cranes, trucks and staff rosters whilst managing fatigue and fitting it all in around the weather factors can be a bit tricky. The team pulled it off admirably however, and we have managed to leave Casey incident free, with three extra days up our sleeve for marine science.

A big thanks to everyone involved in the resupply effort. The AA crew, the watercraft operators, the bunker door team, the Bureau Of Meteorology forecasters and the great team at Casey, working at the wharf and green store, driving the cranes and trucks, providing comms and feeding everyone ashore.

Cheers

Andy and Mike

P.S. The VL won the "Christmas Superlative Award For Laziness"...

Map

180° 170°W 160°W 150°W 140°W 130°W 120°W 110°W 100°W 90°W 80°W 70°W 60°W 50°W 40°W 30°W 20°W 10°W 30°E 40°E 50°E 60°E 70°E 80°E 90°E 100°E 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E 160°E 170°E 80°S 70°S 60°S 50°S 40°S 30°S 20°S 10°S 0°N 10°N 20°N 30°N 40°N 50°N 60°N 70°N 80°N Casey Davis Mawson Macquarie Island Heard Island Fremantle Hobart

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.

on