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Last night after concluding cargo operations, with the helicopters safely aboard and LARCS safely ashore, RSV Nuyina slipped out of the Buckles Bay anchorage. Overnight we undertook a 55nm round trip to enable shipboard processing of fresh water and waste products in a manner that mitigated against impact to the external environment.
This morning, in the pre-dawn light the ship returned to Buckles Bay. Stern first, we approached to a distance of 700mts off the shore line. At the water's edge we could see the outline of the watercraft team gathered beside a LARC eyeing the conditions. With the shoreside assessment of the watercraft coordinator matching an early forecast kindly provided by our Bureau of Met team indicated down-trending winds and a benign swell, the day for refuelling Macca was upon us.
A 0555hs, a preliminary communications check was completed and approval was given for shore based watercraft to approach the vessel. A pre-positioned fuel hose reel facing aft off the science deck was paid out, collected and taken to shore. With the ship based end handed to another IRB (rigid inflatable). The ship then turned until the bow faced the station and with a lowered line, retrieved the ship end once more, to be brought in and connected at the ship's focsle. By mid morning, with the ship now connected to station by the fuel line and all pressure tests completed, it was time to open the valves and watch the line, suspended by anchored sleeves, sink slightly under the weight of thousands of litres of special Antarctic blend pouring forth along its length and into the thirsty holding tanks ashore. With the skies clearing and the weather holding near perfect conditions, fuel line monitors onshore and in the IRBs patrolled the line whilst our refuel team completed regular checks via radio on the fill rate ashore, as gauged by rostered personnel at the fuel farm. By early afternoon, we estimate the operation will be near completion. Several hours of fuel line pack up will be required before boats will be off the water, and the operation can be ceased. Thus far, the operation has flowed very smoothly, guided by plenty of experience and exceedingly thorough (and prescriptive) checklists - testament to the preparation, skill and effort involved – by everyone taking part.
And now, over to Rob on his arrival to the ship following a winter at Macquarie Island.
Rob here – voyage management has given me the opportunity to provide some guest content for the sitrep. I've just spent a year on windy soggy beautiful Macquarie Island. The rest of the MI crew are still on the island – I was able to steal away to the ship for the first time last night to do some medical familiarisation and capitalise on foodstuffs I've always taken for granted, like celery. The arrival of the Nuyina heralded a time of significant and mandatory change for us all. The station has been transformed from 'home' into a hive of chugging tractors, chopping choppers and plodding LARCs moving innumerable cage pallets in every direction (including up). There is high-vis and sand absolutely everywhere. I'm not sure what exactly the Gentoos think of all this but they're helping the best they can – posing for photos and shifting tussock around station. Many people have told me that I speak slowly and that I look a bit shocked. I'm still thinking of a good reply. But in a week of incredibly vivid and stark changes – surely coming onto the Nuyina is up there with the most surreal. Macquarie Island station is lovingly described as 'a bit agricultural'. Rusted Nissen huts, damp wooden buildings covered in green moss, cramped quarters and the ever-present white-noise of the wind. Coming to the ship quite legitimately feels like time travel. The island is visible in incredible clarity from the clean floor to ceiling windows of the observation deck, but is prominently silent from behind the glass. The white-noise is now a stable hum of the air-conditioning. The LED lights are soft, the floors are clean and uncluttered. I can't smell the seals. My prediction is that in a week or so there will be quite a few impressed Macquarie Island winterers making good use of this futuristic ship, and certainly enjoying the excellent hospitality of the crew. What a weird experience life can be.
Regards,
James & Brendan
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.