Noon position : 64* 50’S 63* 53’W
Having anchored the previous evening near Cuverville Island an iceberg watch was asked for again. During the time at anchor numerous bumps and scrapes were heard as the icebergs hit and scraped along the hull. The photos below were taken after midnight and show how light it was at that time.
After lifting the anchor the ship proceeded through the Neumayer Channel mainly by sail, very gently to avoid icebergs. The channel is 16 miles (26 km) long in a NE-SW direction and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide, separating Anvers Island from Wiencke and Doumer Islands in the Palmer Archipelago..
Our destination was the US Palmer Research Station on Anvers Island where they mainly did marine biology research. The station had a maximum occupation of 45 people (researchers and base staff) with the normal stay on site being about 6 months,14 months being the maximum allowed. The researchers used a ‘glider’ to test the oceans for salinity, oxygen content, temperature and other information. It can be programmed to travel in any pre-determined direction and depth, rise to the surface after a set time and send and receive information as required. The one we were shown could travel and do tests for a three week period.
While we were at the station their supply ship arrived. We stayed at anchor near the research station and another anchor watch was begun to be carried out by the passengers. During the afternoon it was so warm that some of the passengers were on deck sunbathing (and getting burnt)
Having anchored the previous evening near Cuverville Island an iceberg watch was asked for again. During the time at anchor numerous bumps and scrapes were heard as the icebergs hit and scraped along the hull. The photos below were taken after midnight and show how light it was at that time.
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| In the bay |
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| Iceberg |
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| In the bay |
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| Icebergs |
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| At anchor |
After lifting the anchor the ship proceeded through the Neumayer Channel mainly by sail, very gently to avoid icebergs. The channel is 16 miles (26 km) long in a NE-SW direction and about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide, separating Anvers Island from Wiencke and Doumer Islands in the Palmer Archipelago..
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| A pretty iceberg |
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| Approaching the icebergs |
Our destination was the US Palmer Research Station on Anvers Island where they mainly did marine biology research. The station had a maximum occupation of 45 people (researchers and base staff) with the normal stay on site being about 6 months,14 months being the maximum allowed. The researchers used a ‘glider’ to test the oceans for salinity, oxygen content, temperature and other information. It can be programmed to travel in any pre-determined direction and depth, rise to the surface after a set time and send and receive information as required. The one we were shown could travel and do tests for a three week period.
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| This picture of Palmer Station was taken from the web |
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| Palmer Station |
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| On the way to the station |
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| Seals on the iceberg |
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| Palmer station exercise room |
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| Ice for the drinks! |
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| The popcorn machine |
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| The 'glider' |
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| The supply ship arriving |
While we were at the station their supply ship arrived. We stayed at anchor near the research station and another anchor watch was begun to be carried out by the passengers. During the afternoon it was so warm that some of the passengers were on deck sunbathing (and getting burnt)
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