Signy, Deception and Rothera

It has been a busy 10 days. We successfully shut down the base at Signy for the Winter. Despite having a night on DP with winds gusting 87kts.
   It was a bouncy trip to the peninsula then down to Deception Island for a visit and a chance to stretch the legs then the passed few days we have been at Rothera, doing cargo work and dropping 'concrete mattresses' on some underwater piping to protect it from the ice in winter.
   All the passengers will be on board tonight then we will leave first thing in the morning to head back to Stanley, saying goodbye to Antarctica for another season.

Iced up f'c'sle

Old Whaling station at Deception

Old British hangar

Vessel alongside Biscoe Wharf-Rothera

Rothera Base

Elephant seals

South Georgia

We have now left South G, en route to Signy. My first time in SG did not disappoint, the weather was perfect. We had a bit of cargo to do then I got a chance to go ashore for a walk round Grytviken then over to Miviken. It is a truly stunning place. At Grytviken, there is an abandoned whaling station and museum, church, etc.

Alongside at King Edward Point

Grytviken

Old Whalers

Steam powered bone saw

Harpoons

'Whale Canon'

grab used to pull the whales on board by the flukes, up to 100tonne

Boilers

Another Whaler

Sir Ernest Shackleton's grave

Miviken

Fresh water ponds, full of fur seals

S/Y Pelagic Australis

A view from the bridge

The run down to Bird Island interesting, we had fog for the whole three days and a close quarters situation with another vessel. Last call Bird Island was successful, we managed to take all the cargo out using the Humbers and Tula, including an 8 tonne digger.

The ship has just left Bird Island and we are progressing well towards King Edward Point on South Georgia, the sky is clear blue and there's a low swell on the beam, a good day to be at sea!

 Fog at night with our ice spotlights helping

 Fog in the day

 The difference a day makes, South G

Back in F.I.

It was a good trip back from Halley. We encountered a bit more ice than anticipated but nothing more than causing a bit of banging and crashing.
  The weather got a bit lumpy across Drake's Passage (F8 on the beam), a bit uncomfortable and passengers on board remained in their bunks for a few days.

The ship arrived in Stanley and we were at anchor until a cruise ship took on some fuel then we went alongside and discharged cargo and passengers. Yesturday we set off for Mare Harbour, East Cove of the Falklands, to take bunkers. Once the bunkering is done this evening we will be leaving and heading to Bird Island full steam.

Icing on the Ballast vent

shelf at N9

The moon! Time to leave

Passage back

At anchor at stanley

Mare Harbour (HMS Protector)