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The weather gods yesterday afternoon decided that they didn't want to play nice. By 15:30 we had ceased cargo operations and placed the barge back onto the ship after only two barge loads of RTA (return to Australia) cargo. It became apparent that the winds did not want to ease for the remainder of the day.
The late afternoon forecast yesterday indicated a potential weather window in the afternoon today, the voyage management team set about developing an ambitious plan. This morning it became apparent that maybe it was a little bit too ambitious. The winds again hampering putting the barge and small boats on the water. While we waited the ship's deck crew played container Tetris, repositioning the containers in preparation for refuelling and in readiness for Mawson. Up on the bridge the crew lifted the anchor and manoeuvred the ship closer to shore, the aim being to decrease the barge run distance and make use of the lower wind speeds closer to shore. We are now sitting on the ships DP (dynamic positioning) which uses electric thrusters to hold the ship in position with out moving.
Around midday the winds had dropped away and we were within operational parameters. At 12:45 Barge 2 was lowered into the water and just like that we were underway again, ferrying containers from the wharf back to the ship. About an hour and half later Barge 1 joined in the fun and the back loading of RTA was in full swing. Out on the deck the helicopter pilots, engineer, Everest Master and the Voyage Leader inspected the area which had been prepared for the helicopters. With both barges on the water the working party on the deck continued to clean up the remaining steel work on the deck from previous contracts that needed to be ground back.
We are now so late in the season that there are 8 hours of darkness each night. In preparation for the 24 hour refuelling operation, we will be testing how well the area where the fuel line will run between ship and shore can be lit to enable night operations. Watercraft operators will also test the use of night vision goggles in readiness for this operation which will occur in the coming days, weather pending of course!
REGARDS: Andy, Jenn and Lauren
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.