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Yesterday evening, the last of the heavy lift discharges from the ship to station, a 28.2t Caterpillar D7 Dozer bound for Wilkins, was carefully and precisely lifted from the bowels of the ship and set down upon the barge. Eye to eye with the bridge as it glided on its crane slings over the side of the ship, this chunky mustard coloured tracked beast looked like it could go through virtually anything, and yet it sat very sedately as the barge glided across Newcomb Bay towards the wharf. Much like the crane that went before it, the barge run was timed with the high tides. Barge ramps and anchor points were positioned and when all was just so, the Dozer was skilfully manoeuvred off the barge and onto station.
This afternoon, on a very calm bay, the same process has been replicated but in reverse, with the retrieval from station of the ingoing Grove crane's predecessor, another Grove 23t crane.. As this is being written, it sits upon the barge having just been driven on at a lower tide, for transfer back to the ship and into the tweens. When completed, this will be the final of the three heavy lift operations that have occurred during this resupply. These three items of cargo have cumulatively required nearly 12 operational cargo hours, involving many personnel between the ship's crew, watercraft operators and shore side personnel and the careful sequencing of general cargo around them to make best use of the tides. Behind this have been many further hours of planning, briefings, rostering, certifications and review both here and in Australia. To put it in perspective, the same amount of time undertaking conventional cargo loads would see (on a good day), upwards of 36 conventional (general) cargo barge runs between the ship and station. No doubt these impressive bits of plant will be put to excellent use on station, (the incoming Grove crane is already operational).
This morning, prior to this lift, saw our first concerted run of 'Return To Australia' (RTA) cargo. Presently at Casey a number of individuals are involved in a project identifying and arranging RTA to be retrieved from Station. A bit like a spring clean of the backyard shed, it's never easy to part with 'things' – particularly down here in an environment which often justifies the 'never know when you might need it' school of thought. That said..and through the hard work of this project group and the station team, Casey is giving up its miscellany of 'artefacts' – and the ship is on hand to take it, one barge load at a time.
Regards to all and a very Happy Birthday to Muz.
James, Anthea & Gemma.
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.