ASRV Lawrence M. Gould Latest Location - (Click Here - Zoom Out to see better)
We left the Hotel Bordes Glacier at 0930 on a nice tour bus like the one that brought us from the airport 14 days ago. It is amazing to all of us how quickly the time has passed. As we left that hotel I think we all have a better understanding of why time it is such a precious gift.
The LMG ( Lawerence M. Gould) is the primary support vessel for Palmer Station Antarctica. It resupplies the station with personnel, food, supplies, and provides science support.
Built in 1997, the Gould is 76 meters in length and is ice-strengthened (Ice class ABS A1). It has the capacity for supporting up to 26 research science personnel for 75 days in arctic climates.
When we arrived at the Gangway we hauled our bags and equipment onto the vessel. After a quick temperature check for Covid safety, we were on our way to find our sleeping berths for the journey across the southern ocean to Palmer Station Antarctica. I was assigned room 114 which to my surprise was one of the larger rooms on the vessel having its own small sitting room with an office desk. This is usually the room where the Chief Scientist resides during a cruise. I felt pretty blessed to have such a nice space to myself.
The rest of the day was spent by most preparing for the upcoming journey across the Drake Passage to Palmer Station. We had some drills on the use of the float coats and lifeboats in case of an abandon ship situation. Let's hope not. We also had some preliminary training to go through that is standard for going to the Antarctic Continent like environmental safety and hazard awareness training. We were also warned of the conditions we might encounter going through the Drake Passage. This small section of ocean where the Pacific, Atlantic, and Antarctic currents collide proves to be one of the most severe and unpredictable sections of water on the planet. Powerful storms are squeezed by the long leg of South America causing systems to crash into one another which churns up the waters of the Drake.
We left the Hotel Bordes Glacier at 0930 on a nice tour bus like the one that brought us from the airport 14 days ago. It is amazing to all of us how quickly the time has passed. As we left that hotel I think we all have a better understanding of why time it is such a precious gift.
The LMG ( Lawerence M. Gould) is the primary support vessel for Palmer Station Antarctica. It resupplies the station with personnel, food, supplies, and provides science support.
Built in 1997, the Gould is 76 meters in length and is ice-strengthened (Ice class ABS A1). It has the capacity for supporting up to 26 research science personnel for 75 days in arctic climates.
When we arrived at the Gangway we hauled our bags and equipment onto the vessel. After a quick temperature check for Covid safety, we were on our way to find our sleeping berths for the journey across the southern ocean to Palmer Station Antarctica. I was assigned room 114 which to my surprise was one of the larger rooms on the vessel having its own small sitting room with an office desk. This is usually the room where the Chief Scientist resides during a cruise. I felt pretty blessed to have such a nice space to myself.
Nice work on the blog Jim! keep em coming.
ReplyDelete