Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

Convergence, the sea surface temperature rose by about 6°C. I read during the
morning and had a light lunch. I read again during the afternoon and we had Chris
Hughes and Andy Dolphin (Postal Clerk) in for drinks at 5.30 pm. I felt nearly back
to normal, but a bit weak and still in pain at times. Next day, after a fairly rough
night it was calm again in the morning and several minke whales were around. I
read and wrote some more. We came up to Cape Pembroke, Falkland Islands, in sun
and showers, passing ten fishing boats in Port William and being overtaken by the
Fishery Protection vessel, Falklands Desire, a red and white painted trawler. Squidjigging
vessels, all Japanese were moving in and out. They were specialist ships
which had banks of lights and reels for line all around the ship, from stem to stern,
with mesh platforms, normally raised but which could be let down on hinges. I took
some photographs of the details. Owing to utter confusion on the part of the Port
Officer we were told first that we would have to wait for a berth until late morning,
then that it would be early afternoon, then mid-afternoon. Stuart anchored in Port
William and eventually after speaking to the tug Irishman, he established that there
wasn't enough room alongside FIPAS dock for Bransfield. So finally we went in to
Port Stanley and anchored off the Public Jetty in a freshening breeze. Biscoe was tied
up at the FIC Jetty, looking good, with a blue-painted yacht, Thalassi, alongside her.
A few from Biscoe came across for a party in the wardroom. I couldn't drink, of
course, and felt curiously detached, but listened to the interesting talk. I left at 11
o’clock and the party broke up shortly after.
Two days later I walked along to Cable and Wireless with Eric to telephone
Maureen, but wasn't able to get through. I then boarded Biscoe and had a
conversation with Chris Elliott and others. John Liddy (Steward), bless him, gave me
a Biscoe sweatshirt and a pewter beer mug from the ship's crew, which was a very
nice retirement present. Chris now believed that we hadn't thought out the design of
the deck arrangements for the proposed new BAS ship properly; we could he
thought, get some valuable advice from the Poles. This idea stemmed from
discussions with Vladimyr Slosarcyck, who had been working on board. (Chris and I
had been discussing plans for a new multi-purpose ship, as part of my plans for
expanding BAS, which eventually was built and commissioned as RRS James Clark
Ross, launched by HM the Queen in 1991?). Biscoe was in good order, but the
steelwork was very thin in places, especially under the bridge, perhaps not
surprising in a thirty-year-old ship which had seen heavy service. The scantlings in
the chain locker were very thin and rusted - not seen by the Lloyd's Surveyor, but put
right at the last refit. The bow-thrust would need an expensive overhaul, but could
last out until the new ship was commissioned. We discussed the changing
operations, OBP, the case for two crews and so on. Although pressed to stay for a
curry lunch I thought better of it and returned to Bransfield.
On the way I passed the team working by the FIC jetty on the half buried hulk of
an historic sailing ship: Snow Squall. The project had got to the point of lifting the
bow section (35ft) with air lifting bags. That's what they hoped to take back to
Portland, Maine, USA. After lunch I went ashore again and tried to phone Maureen,
again no success. It's a half hour walk each way from the jetty- not so good that day.
I stopped in at Biscoe again, to talk with the University scientists who were engaged
on a project with Biscoe support. Ian Hamilton was the leader; he was very
impressed with Biscoe and all the support he was getting. Even the Captain was
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