Resupply

 

 

 

 

Once a year a russian ship is chartered to do a massive resupply to the 3 Australian continental stations - Mawson, Davis and Casey. This year saw the biggest ship that has ever been chartered and the biggest resupply ever to come to Casey. The reason for this is that there were something like 49 x 40 foot containers dropped off here that are to become the shell for the new accommodation wings that will be built on either end of the redshed due to the burgeoning summer population here at Casey. As you can well imagine there is a whole lot of logistical issues in trying to move that many containers here in Antarctica, not to mention finding homes for all of them where they won't cause too many issues with snow accumulation over the winter months! A new trailer had to be sent down on the ship for the movement of the 40 footers, and a crane was sent down as well. The cargo is lifted off the ship by massive cranes that are part of the ship, and lowered onto barges or things called unifloats (these are big floats that are connected together to make a big pontoon that is manouvered by a little tug type boat). Then the cargo is delivered to the Casey wharf where it is either driven off the unifloats or lifted by a crane which is set up on the shore.

It is one hell of an effort to get all of this stuff ashore - The entire station supplies for the whole year are delivered on this one ship, so there is a lot of stuff!! The entire resupply lasted 15 solid days, it was certainly a relief to see the M.V Amderma sail off into the open seas when she departed.

Oh, and in some of the photo's you can see Stay. Stay is a fibreglass guide dog who is something of a legend around Antarctica. She is probably the most well travelled expeditioner spending her winters at a different station almost every winter. We are fortunate enough to have her with us at Casey this year. She spent a couple of days during the resupply sitting atop the control room of one of the barges keeping a keen eye on the proceedings!