V2 sitrep – Thursday, 06 January 2022

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This morning, the Nuyina is cruising southwards in open water towards Davis where we expect to arrive in a few hours. We are preparing for an afternoon of helicopter operations between ship and shore.

Yesterday was another significant day for the vessel. As we made our way into Prydz Bay, we paused to deploy the CTD through the moon pool in a depth of 2600 metres to hover just a few metres above the sea floor. More importantly, we were able to wind up the reel and retrieve the package successfully.

Then in the evening, two more important events took place.

Firstly, Nuyina finally fulfilled its destiny and got up close and personal with Antarctic pack ice. Over the last few days, we've been looking for an opportunity to make our move. Finally last night, the time was right to set a southward course and we entered Antarctic pack ice for the first time. It was a pleasant change of pace to feel the ship lurch occasionally as it pushed through the floes and a relatively gentle introduction to ice-breaking but it will do for a first try.

Secondly, the vessel crossed the Antarctic circle (being latitude 66 degrees 33 minutes) at 08:20pm AEST last night. This ship has come a long way from its birthplace in a shipyard on the lower reaches of the Danube River, more than 100 km from the sea. It has transited the Romanian canals into the Black Sea, passed through the Bosporus into the Mediterranean, traversed the Atlantic from the North Sea and Norwegian fiords to the Cape of Good Hope, and sailed through the subantarctic islands across to Tasmania. And finally, after all this time, we have pushed through the ice to reach the Antarctic Continent which is gleaming in the sunlight this morning to the south.

Thanks to all those who have laboured for so long to get the ship to this point, not only on this voyage but over the many years since this vessel was first conceived.

Lloyd & Justin

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.