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Good afternoon to all, and welcome to Voyage Macquarie Island & Dumont d'Urville (VMI-DDU) aboard the Aurora Australis.
Yesterday, after a week of rapid preparations, our contingent of Australian expeditioners boarded the Aurora Australis with their 41 French counterparts at Macquarie Wharf in Hobart. The transfer of expeditioners of the Institut Polaire Francais (IPEV) from Hobart to Dumont d'Urville (DDU) station in the French Antarctic Territory via the Aurora is another example of the enduring partnership between the French and Australian Antarctic Programs.
It is also a testament to the Australian Antarctic Division's capacity to respond rapidly to changing circumstances. Preparing a resupply operation of a foreign station on very short notice, and with no small amount of re-modelling of systems, procedures and equipment required, is a complex process. That this preparation was achieved to a high standard in the time frame available is a credit to many sections within AAD administration and operations (not least Shipping) and our counterparts at P&O.
With forecasted weather not supporting boating operations at Macquarie Island this week, the decision was made to sail South first, towards Dumont d'Urville, so as to complete the station resupply before returning via Macquarie Island. For the last 24 hours that is precisely what we have done, sailing past the last jagged outcroppings of the Tasmanian coastline and into the cool embrace of the Southern Ocean.
On board, expeditioners have attended preliminary briefings, inductions and an emergency muster drill, whilst gradually becoming accustomed to the roll of the ship. Planning of the DDU resupply operation has now begun in earnest. In addition to briefings conducted within the voyage management team and watercraft operators, the French liaison personnel from IPEV / Canadian Helicopters have been of great value as we delve into the details of the resupply operation. Meanwhile the crew has been busy conducting their initial checks, briefings and drills.
Until tomorrow.
James & Leanne
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.