Voyage 12 - Greenland Disko Bay

Day 1: Kangerlussuaq
18 August 2019 - Embarkation Day
In the early hours of the morning, M/V Ocean
Atlantic glided the final stretch of her long passage of
almost 200 km, along the Kangerlussuaq Fjord,
connecting the sea beyond to the main international
airport for Greenland. Here, a small township nestles
in the glacial hills, existing entirely to support the
associated tourism that uses the airport & services
the ships that sail into the nearby port.
Kangerlussuaq was established by the USA as an
airbase, firstly in WW2 and then further reinforced
by Cold war tensions and most of the infrastructure
was designed and built almost a century ago. In more
recent times with the fall of the Soviet Union, its
importance diminished and the population waned.
While tourism and air transport keeps the town alive,
plans to relocate Greenland’s air hub to the capital of
Nuuk, may forever change Kangerlussuaq’s value as a
destination that supports the local economy.
Port days are busy and intensely organized days for
the ship’s hard-working crew. 104 guests flying in to
join us from as far afield as North America, Canada &
from nearby Europe, we had much to prepare to
welcome them all in the best way. As the warm
northern summer sun beamed down on us, we
cleaned our good ship & prepared ourselves for the
journey ahead. Soon enough it seemed, our guests
Page 6
From the Voyage Log
© Aaron Strahlke
began to arrive from their airport transfer from
Iceland; it’s always an exciting time to meet new
faces that will share the journey with us. Ahead of
us, some good days of exploring highlights of
Greenland. There was much to look forward to!
While the warm afternoon sun had become the cool
breezes of twilight, we made our way by zodiac
from jetty to ship.
With formalities completed - luggage placed in
cabins, passports collected for safe-keeping, and
mandatory briefing, our newly arrived guests had a
few moments to become accustomed to what
would be their home for the next days of
adventures. In the Viking Theatre, a safety drill
cleared us to sail away from port, and it was already
time for a social dinner in our Vinland restaurant
which we enjoyed as MV Ocean Atlantic sailed for
the distant horizon. After a lengthy day of travel, it
was time to rest and enjoy the deep sleep that
naturally follows.
“
© Aaron Strahlke
We can only ever experience true
beauty in nature when we are
brave enough to seek it…
”
As we’re on an expedition, we know full well that
there are no guarantees. We are at the mercy of the
weather, the wildlife, and the landscape of this cold
place. But, as explorers know all too well, we can
only ever experience true beauty in nature when
we are brave enough to seek it out amongst the
mountains and the seas in the world’s most remote
places. It is with that sentiment in mind that we
venture away from Kangerlussuaq and north, to the
future and all the wonders it holds.
18-23 August, 2019 Volume 1, Issue 12