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Refuel was completed at around 2230hs last night with 'pigging' and fuel line pack up completed by 0100hs. Despite the late hour the teams in the boat and on station saw the glassy still waters and clear skies as the optimal conditions for retrieving the ice lines laid out previously to help maintain an ice-free corridor for the fuel line. By 0300hs they had the lines hauled in and coiled, ready for next year. After an around the clock operation such as this, on the back of almost a week of consecutive cargo operations it was time for an operational pause long enough to enable rostering of cargo operations and passenger transfers this afternoon. Amidst the flow of return to Australia (RTA) cargo, a rigid inflatable ferried expeditioners to and from the station, along with groups of ship's crew for express station tours. The station's postmaster made a second visit to the ship having exhausted her initial supply of stamps, envelopes and postal paraphernalia.
With a trend for increasing winds in the coming days becoming more apparent in both the short range forecast and indicators provided from met balloons and automatic weather stations, a decision was made to enact a contingency plan to bring all of the remaining northbound expeditioners to the ship, lest the coming low pressure system preclude their transfer in the coming days. After an extended stay on station, personal belongings and equipment were packed, and hastened goodbyes made. The ship now sits in Newcomb Bay with our full northbound contingent of expeditioners waiting to see what tomorrow brings... be it increasing winds or, the chance to undertake further RTA cargo operations.
Regards,
James, Jenn and Andy.
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.