The resupply vessel arrived this Monday via Port Hueneme, CA, USA to Lytellton, NZ to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The vessel has supplies for the next year. It returns to the USA with among other things waste generated on station and in field camps. This includes but is not limited to food waste (ends up being composted), recyclables (plastics, aluminum cans, bottles, metals), human waste (from field camps), hazardous waste, items to be auctioned off, etc. It actually goes back to Port Hueneme and Washington. Approximately 65% of waste is recycled from the station.
--Vessel arrival signals dramatic changes int town. NZ Army and US Navy Chaps are brought in to help with unloading/loading the vessel of millvans. Certain roads and parts of town have limited access for the large trucks and loaders rumbling through town. This is for safety reasons and to expediate the process. I heard that it is approximately $45,000 for every day that the vessel is in port (not sure what that encompasses/does not encompass). Lots of dust is kicked up with all the vehicular traffic and with the drier conditions. The town also becomes a dry town - no bars are open and no alcoholic beverages are sold in the store while unloading/loading is happening. It usually takes 7-9 days. Large parts of town also go on 24-hr operations with 12-hr worker shifts. I've heard from multiple people that have been here all season, that this is the only time that they lock their doors during the season- I'm guessing with a large surge in people that are here for just a week or two there are security concerns or there has been events in the past that led to this worry. Although I haven't seen anything to say I understand where the concern is. Possibly once they finish or when they first got here and the town was not dry yet...
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Note: This year has been the largest amount of open water in front of the station in many years. The water is not open all the way to the open ocean, but is in front of station and then goes to a slushy-looking, ice floes created by the icebreaker and the tanker and vessel that just arrived. One thing that comes with the open water is more common sightings of whales (meinkes and orcas) and sometimes penguins.
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Vessel outside of Mcmurdo, with Icebreaker in background.
Vessel is just outside of docking in McMurdo.
Hi Corey, Thanks for your post card. We have been following your post from day one. I (Kam) wish I had this opportunity. Drop by to see us when you come to SFO. Your aunt knows where we are.
ReplyDeleteTake good care of yourself.
Kam and Rose