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With everyone safely on board it was time for the MPV Everest to conduct a muster exercise. Yesterday, not long after we turned our clocks back 2 hours, the muster alarm sounded and expeditioners filed armed with their survival bag, immersion suit and life jacket to the muster station on the Forecastle Deck. This is an important part of ship life ensuring all on board know what to do should we ever encounter an emergency situation.
Last night we all gathered in the mess for the first time since we departed Davis for a briefing from the Voyage Leader outlining our possible arrival time at Mawson. He also indicated that until we reached the ice it was uncertain on the exact timings and hence the arrival at our destination. This morning we all woke to the ship rolling around a little more than when we went to bed, by this afternoon this had increased a little more as we weaved our way through the ice pack and towards the ice edge. Up on the bridge and out on the decks many an expeditioner was observed taking in the sights of birds flying around the vessel, the occasional seal and penguins, lounging on ice floes. All the while the ice passing by, sometimes with a crunch, sometimes a gentle nudge out of the way. Other expeditioners took advantage of the gentle roll to take part in tours of the Dive and ROV facility and the 50 tonne and 250 tonne ship's crane given by Everest crew members.
Below the decks the Helicopter Resources Team lead briefings on helicopter safety and the wearing of helicopter immersion suits for over water flights. This provided important information should we need to use the helicopters for accessing and resupplying the station. Meanwhile the Voyage Management Team continue with preparations for our arrival to Mawson. The team is looking at and preparing for all possible resupply combinations – over water; overwater and fly off; and fly off. What the final plan will be will depend on the conditions we encounter as we move through the ice on our way to Mawson, and the water around Mawson itself.
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.