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After departing Casey station Friday evening the ship made good progress North West across the polynya, past the now familiar stooging course North of Frazier Island before moving Northwards to push into the sea ice. On the southbound leg of this voyage, the 70 odd nm patch of sea ice that we had expected to delay our arrival to Casey had, with winds and currents in our favour, proved to be easily negotiated.
However now on our Northern leg, and with easterly winds and sea currents, the leads that so obliged us weeks ago were closed. Compacted and with a fresh covering of snow to absorb the efforts of the ship, the sea ice began to push back. Altering course, the crew took us on a Westerly arc to probe the ice there, only to grind once again to a halt. The path to the south remains accessible but at present there's little prospect of Northward progress for the next little while giving us ample opportunity to catch our breath and reflect on what has been achieved these past days.
Yesterday (Friday), was our final day of V2 resupply operations at Casey. Under an overcast sky and with fairly steady winds, our watercraft operators along with their counterparts on station and the deck crew on the Aurora maintained the steady pace of RTA transfer back to the ship throughout the morning and afternoon. Passenger transfers continued on, culminating in final farewells for a number of ex-winterers, their time at Casey now at an end. At around 1800hs, the last lift of RTA took place, followed shortly after by the barge. Over the last fortnight, it had through the superb efforts of our watercraft team, conveyed 542t of cargo to station, and returned 440t to the ship. These outcomes, coupled with the successful transfer of fuel to Casey and passenger transfers has made for a very safe and productive V2 resupply.
For this, we would like to extend our thanks to the ship's crew and to the management team and expeditioners of Casey station for their efforts in facilitating this resupply. We wish also to thank the workgroups and their supervisors on board the ship for their outstanding contributions to this resupply, in particular the refuelling team and watercraft operators. Finally, our thanks to the volunteers on board who were instrumental in the safe and efficient transfer of expeditioners both on ship and station, and to those other passengers who have waited patiently for us to depart.
With the ship made ready, dinner eaten, and an expeditioner muster in the E-Deck library completed, we moved out of Newcomb Bay, farewelled by a gathering of expeditioners at station, flares lit, and responded to by blasts of the ship's horn.
We were off.. at least for the time being.
Regards,
Voyage Management.
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.