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The Mawson region turned on another spectacular day for those aboard the Aurora Australis, with winds dropping and remaining below 5 knots from around 0700 and throughout the day. The Aurora again sat within Kista strait, the focal point of operational activities at the station, but in the context of our surroundings, just a small orange feature at the foot of the towering white ice plateau.
The vessel successfully deployed a large length of special refuelling hose (approximately 400metres) as well as valves, couplings, connections and tools today in preparation for the transfer of a significant amount of fuel to Mawson station tomorrow. The setup process for this sensitive operation is meticulously planned, and thoroughly conducted to ensure all equipment is inspected and operating correctly, any personnel involved are aware of their responsibilities and how the operation will be conducted, and what actions to take in the event of any emergency. The presence of sea ice within Mawson harbour added a further dimension to the activity, and making it a long day for all involved.
The Antarctic Division's activities within the Antarctic are supported by some extremely experienced and dedicated personnel, including expeditioners, the Master and crew of the Aurora Australis, contractors and other Commonwealth government colleagues such as the Bureau of Meteorology forecasters and observers.
Guiding both station and voyage management teams through the complex and sensitive refuelling operation, is one of these highly experienced personnel, Mr Brad Collins. Brad hails from New South Wales, but has spent most of his summers over the last several years supporting station refuelling activities across all four of Australia's Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations. Each station is different from the others, with separate fuel requirements based on their typical levels of activity over any given season (e.g. the number of personnel they'll support in average over a 12 month period), the distance from shore the vessel is able to anchor or moor, the layout and anchoring arrangements for the fuel hose and even whether the refuelling activities are conducted across sea-ice or water. Brad has developed a high degree of familiarity with each of the station's unique refuelling requirements over this time, and together with his refuelling team works tirelessly to see the refuelling operation conducted safely and within tight timeframes and environmental management constraints. Brad in turn is supported by a network of professionals aboard the Aurora, tradespersons ashore, watercraft operators, forecasters and a host of other personnel who are assigned roles specifically to ensure the refuelling is conducted without incident.
While the surroundings for the resupply operations at Mawson, including refuelling, are spectacular those involved in the operation remain focussed on their individual roles and team obligations leaving the stunning scenery to be enjoyed during short break periods, or at the end of the day when all required tasks have been completed. Still, when you do have time sit back and take a moment to relax between work periods here, it's difficult not to feel extremely lucky to be present within the extraordinary Antarctic environment, and part of an operation which is critical to the continuation of Antarctic science and exploration in the region.
Today the vessel also recovered the three expeditioners who'd been sent to nearby Bechervaise Island three days ago to assist the project team there in the analysis of the Adelie penguin colony. The trio returned tired (and smelling a little like the creatures they were studying!) from two very hectic but enjoyable days helping the two resident scientists on the island. Tomorrow they'll return to their core roles supporting the resupply operations, a small example of the diverse roles any expeditioner might be called upon to undertake during a trip South.
The vessel's watercraft teams were also extremely busy today, ferrying passengers and equipment between the vessel and shore, supporting the deployment of the fuel hose across the sea ice and setting up mooring lines for the vessel across West Arm. The watercraft teams also assisted a Royal Australian Navy hydrographic unit based at Mawson over the summer season to deploy two IRBs (inflatable boats) and equipment across a section of sea-ice, which the station had been unable to facilitate to date without vessel support - due to the extent of sea ice remaining at the coast blocking their access to open water. Another watercraft team spent a good hour pushing a very large ice floe away from the vessel and from the entrance to Horseshoe Harbour, to ensure it did not drift in too close to the area of operations and the long lengths of hose deployed across the sea ice. The sea ice floes, while small compared to their ice berg cousins can still weigh tens of tonne, and can often be longer and broader than the largest boats in our watercraft fleet.
The ice floe the team moved today would have been in excess of 15 metres in length, perhaps 8 - 10 metres wide and several metres in depth - so much, much larger than the jet barge. Despite the challenges presented by the ice floe's significant size, at the helm of the jet barge - skilfully nudging and guiding the floe from different angles and working with the prevailing wind and current to steer it out of harms' way – was Penny Purdie, one of the AAD's more experienced watercraft operators (and a bit of a gun with the jet barge just quietly). Penny was also part of the watercraft team for Voyage 2 to resupply Casey station over the Christmas / New Year period. Due to resource constraints identified just prior to Voyage 3's departure from Hobart in January, she agreed to return to Antarctica again at very short notice to be part of the current team. This means Penny will have spent only a few days ashore in-between each of the several week-long voyages, and while the vessel does have satellite phone systems aboard which enable expeditioners to keep in touch with family - the weather, satellite position, timezones, operational priorities and even just the number of people aboard looking to use these facilities – often make it difficult to communicate regularly.
So tonight, and in thanks for her efforts supporting the voyages we're happy to help her get a message out to a special little buddy of hers back home. Penny sends a great big happy birthday to her nephew Lewis. While she might not get to see Lewis for another few weeks yet given we're six hours behind most parts of Australia, she'll certainly have been the first to wish him a happy birthday for the 8th February, and all the way from Antarctica. Happy birthday Lewis from your Aunty Penny - and the rest of us aboard the Aurora Australis.
Cheers
Mark & Fred
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.