'Magicians' step in as thick sea ice forces aerial effort from resupply mission

An Antarctic resupply mission was forced to take to the skies to deliver more than 20 tonnes of goods to the Mawson research base .

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EXPEDITIONERS and crew are finally on their way home after a challenging aerial Antarctic resupply mission.

Thick sea ice off the Mawson coast posed a major challenge to the Australian Antarctic Division undertaking the station’s resupply and changeover.

In a massive aerial operation flying more than 120km each way, helicopters were used to move about 2500kg a day in several flights.

Voyage leader Andy Cianchi said the secret to picking and packing the internal loads was the balance between weight and volume.

“The team building the helicopter loads were magicians, filling every nook and cranny, whilst ensuring the full weight limit is reached,” he said.

“For example, 400kg of frozen chickens only half fills the helicopter cabin, but a cabin full of frozen broccoli only weighs 100kg.”

About 22 tonnes of essential and priority cargo was transferred to Mawson Station to ensure the team was kept supplied for the next year.

All hands were on deck to ensure cargo was located, moved and sorted, that the deck was clear of snow and ice, and that the payload and fuel load for every flight into the station was maximised.

MPV Everest was chartered to replace the Aurora Australia until the arrival of Australia’s new icebreaker RSV Nuyina later this year.

Replacement Aurora Australis arrives for duty

THERE has been a changing of the guard at the gateway to Antarctica with a chartered vessel sailing in to fill the void between the Aurora Australis leaving and the arrival of the RSV Nuyina.

The MPV Everest arrived in Hobart on Thursday to start work for the Australian Antarctic Program, resupplying stations and changing over personnel this summer.

The ice-strengthened ship was chartered to replace the Aurora Australis, which left Hobart with much fanfare on December 11 after three decades on the job, until the new vessel arrives.

MPV Everest arrives in Hobart as the interim Antarctic vessel. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Director of Australian Antarctic Division Kim Ellis said the MPV Everest’s first job would be to resupply Casey Station with fuel and other cargo.

“Although Casey is serviced by the Wilkins Aerodrome, the MPV Everest will also transport some expeditioners,” Mr Ellis said.

“The AAD’s original plan was that RSV Nuyina would be undertaking this summer’s shipping operations to our Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations. We can’t wait to see RSV Nuyina in service. It’s three ships in one: giant icebreaker, cargo carrier, and state-of-the-art science lab.

“While Australia’s new icebreaker is now completed, the pandemic delayed the commissioning of RSV Nuyina, which is soon to undergo ice trials in the Arctic Ocean.

“In the meantime we need to resupply our stations this season, and the AAD decided the most cost-effective option was to charter the multipurpose ice-class vessel MPV Everest. The vessel has the cargo capacity, bulk fuel handling, and ice capability we need.”

Aurora Australis berthed at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

The MPV Everest’s first voyage is scheduled to depart for Casey research station on January 9. Built in 2017, the 140m long MPV Everest can break sea ice up to one metre thick.

Owned by Maritime Construction Services it has cargo space for up to 96, 2m containers on its decks and a helipad above the bridge.

The AAD’s 2020-21 summer season is focused on preventing the introduction of COVID-19 to Antarctica and keeping people safe.

Activities have been scaled back to changing over teams and resupplying stations, with around half of the usual 500 people travelling south. Crew members of the MPV Everest were COVID-19 PCR tested three times during a 14-day isolation period before joining the vessel.

Expeditioners travelling south on the first voyage are currently in isolation in Hobart and will undertake COVID-19 testing before boarding the vessel.