Aurora Australis Voyage 2 1996-97 Underway Data

Published: 2001-05-07

This dataset contains the underway data collected during the Aurora Australis Voyage 2 1996-97. This voyage departed Hobart for Casey and then travelled to Davis after completing some marine science research. Underway (meteorological, thermosalinograph and bathymetric) data are available online via the Australian Antarctic Division Data Centre web page (or via the Related URL section). For further information, see the Marine Science Support Data Quality Report via the Related URL section. From the voyage leader's report: Voyage 2 of the 1996-97 season left Hobart during the early evening of 26 September 1996 and returned there nearly nine weeks later after delivering personnel and cargo to Casey and Davis and conducting a variety of marine science programs. All activities assigned to the voyage at Casey and Davis were achieved in full, however the failure of an engine coupling when near Casey early in the voyage significantly reduced the vessel's ability to break ice and that, combined with what was a particularly heavy year for ice, meant that much of the marine science program could not be achieved. Twenty people were delivered to Casey, 37 to Davis, two to Zhong Shan and, within a week of the ship departing to Davis, 28 people had been delivered to Mawson by air. All 86 people were thus able to start a wide-variety of summer programs on the continent on schedule. A small amount of cargo was delivered to Casey, while at Davis the annual resupply of the station was carried out across the fast ice. Mawson and the Chinese station, Zhong Shan, also received small amounts of cargo delivered by air from Davis. Had the voyage returned to Hobart for repairs when the couple failed at Casey then transit times required to and from Tasmania, plus any time required to repair the coupling, would have meant that no "ship-stopped" marine science would have been accomplished at all. Despite the difficulties, useful work was carried out in a number of fields, particularly glaciology and seal research programs. Due to very heavy ice conditions caused in part by the presence of very large icebergs in Prydz Bay, an unusual route was used to exit the region with the ship travelling clockwise around the south part of the bay before departing the area via the Fram Bank - an area that has caused significant problems for ANARE shipping in the past. As a result of the ice conditions and engine problems, the ship arrived back in Hobart on 24 November, 11 days late. Given the considerable difficulties experienced, the overall program "load"" carried by the voyage and the impact the problems experienced could have had on the 1996-97 season as a whole, the overall result can be considered to have been generally satisfactory, although the loss of a large part of the planned marine science program was of great disappointment to all onboard.