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Day two of refueling and there is a quiet calm onboard the Nuyina. Helicopter transfers of ground crew and visiting project personnel were the first operations ship to shore, before starting watercraft and refueling operations once to finish delivering the diesel fuel Macquarie Island station will need to keep the lights on. At the end of pumping operations the team had transferred approximately 271,860 litres of fuel ashore over the two days.
Light winds and 1m swell around the ship are providing enjoyable conditions for the watercraft operators monitoring the fuel line and a higher cloud base today is allowing us to target helicopter passenger transfers and project personnel to locations along the Island. Hut resupply is taking place today which provides gas, food, fuel, medical supplies and assorted equipment to the 6 huts dotted around the Island. These huts will be used by Rangers carrying out their works program along with expeditioners recreating.
Something to note is the incredible team of expeditioners onboard who have been kind, calm and appreciative of everything we are trying to achieve. They are on standby quite often in their "yellows" to be transported to station via LARC and are then asked at short notice to change into immersion suits to be flown ashore via the BK117s. Occasionally they are stood down if the conditions do not allow transport. This requires terrific flexibility, patience and grace ( a little athletic stamina also) and our people onboard have been nothing short of wonderful. The May weather windows that allow us to operate aircraft and watercraft are short and sharp and we need to take advantage of each opportunity. Having people onboard that are responding in a timely prepared manner is assisting us to achieve our desirable objectives. It is a joy to be working with such an array of good humans.
REGARDS: Brendan, Jenn, and Nick
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.