V9 Antarctic Peninsula_Voyage_Log

5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN
2020
Albatros
Magazine
Volume 2, Issue 9
A Visual Journey
South Shetlands &
Antarctic Peninsula: The
Journey of a Lifetime
THE OFFICIAL VOYAGE LOG OF

Albatros Magazine: A Visual Journey
Editor-in-Chief:
Layout & Design:
Contributing Writers:
Traynor,
Dalsgaard,
Martin Schuster
Gaby Pilson
Heidi Ahvenainen, Thomas Bauer, Sara Hoffritz, Sandra Ophorst, Steve
Steve Egan, David Macdonald, Gregers Gjersøe, Gaby Pilson, Amanda
Martin Schuster
Front Cover Image:
Back Cover Image:
Photography Contributors:
Weddell seal © Gaby Pilson
Chinstrap Penguin © Renato Granieri
Renato Granieri
Yuri Choufour
Werner Kruse
Gaby Pilson
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN
Volume 2, Issue 9

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Voyage
Meet the Team
Day 1: Southward Bound
The Seven Sisters of Szczecin
An Unlikely Antarctic Explorer
Day 2: Rolling Our Way South
Penguins! Fun Facts for the Antarctic
Adventurer
Day 3: Approaching the Ice
Ice is Nice – Glacier Fun Facts
Whales: Friendly Giants of the Sea
Day 4: Chasing Icebergs, Finding Penguins
The Geological Structure of the Antarctic
Peninsula
Day 5: The White Continent
When and How the Earth Got Cold
Day 6: South, Way South
Day 7: Deception Island
A Brief History of the Zodiac
Antarctica: A Continent for Science
Day 8: Northward Bound
Fire in the Antarctic
Day 9: Towards the Horn
King of the Southern Winds
Day 10: Home Again
By the Numbers
A Final Note
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The Voyage
The following map illustrates the approximate route taken by M/V Ocean Atlantic during our voyage
to Antarctica. You can find more information about our day to day activities, landings, and
excursions on the following pages. We hope that this magazine serves as a reminder of all of the
wonderful memories you made while experiencing the Antarctic with us at Albatros Expeditions.
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5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Meet the Team
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Phil Hunter
Assistant Expedition
Leader
Jamie Watts
Expedition Leader
Marieke Egan
Assistant Expedition
Leader
Shelli Ogilvy
Zodiac Master
Thomas Morgensen
Kayak Guide
Steve Egan
Kayak Master
Thomas Bauer
Lecturer & Guide
Nadine Smith
Shop Manager
Slava Nikitin
Kayak Master
Guillaume de Remacle
Lecturer & Guide
Renato Granieri
Photographer
Steve Traynor
First Aid Team Leader
Marc Hebert
Lecturer & Guide
Amanda Dalsgaard
Lecturer & Guide
Martin Shuster
Lecturer & Guide
Sara Hoffritz
Lecturer & Guide
Heidi Ahvenainen
Equipment Master
Chloe Zhang
Shop Assistant
Deng Weixi
Translator & Guide
Sandra Ophorst
Lecturer & Guide
Jes (Yeti) Graugaard
Ornithologist & Guide
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

5
Southward Bound
5 January 2019 - Embarkation Day
Written by Martin Schuster
This afternoon most of us were excited to embark
the Ocean Atlantic in anticipation of our trip to the
Antarctic Peninsula. At 14:00 the first bus arrived
and the team on board welcomed us with bright
smiles, a cocktail, and also some necessary
paperwork. Afterwards everybody settled into
their cabins, explored their new home for the next
nine days, and enjoyed some afternoon tea.
At 16:15 our Expedition Leader, Jamie Watts,
invited us into the Viking Theatre for a mandatory
safety briefing followed by a lifeboat drill. We all
learned about SOLAS, Safety of Life at Sea, and
were taken to our life boat stations simulating a
general emergency. As soon as this was completed,
the anchor was lifted and we set sail, leaving the
Port of Ushuaia on our way to the Antarctic
Peninsula!
After a small break, during which we were able to
explore our new home, we were invited once again
into the Viking Theatre for an introduction to the
ship and its key personnel. Our hotel director,
Oliver, introduced the key people in the hotel
department such as our food and beverage
manager, purser, and head of housekeeping. Jamie
then introduced us to the entire Expedition Team
and also informed us that we could expect a ‘good
drake’, meaning that the weather forecast for the
crossing was excellent.
Jamie also explained the difference between cruise
ships and expedition ships, and it was clear that we
were on the right vessel. We were at the start of a
proper expedition voyage.
At 19:15 the formalities were over and we all headed
down for dinner in the Vinland restaurant. The hotel
team prepared a lovely buffet dinner and we spent the
next hour or so mingling with some of our fellow
travellers.
After dinner, many of us went up to the outer decks to
enjoy the scenic views of the Beagle Channel. The
conditions were beautifully calm and the sun was
slowly setting.
Step by step it became quieter around the Ocean
Atlantic as many retired early after the long
international journey.
True to Jamie’s word, the crossing began with calm
seas, and we all fell into a restful sleep.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

The Seven Sisters of Szczecin
David Macdonald, Lecturer (Geology) & Expedition Guide
M/V Ocean Atlantic was launched in 1986 as the last-built of the ‘Shoshtakovich’ class of ice-strengthened
passenger vessels, alongside six sister ships, together known as the “Seven Sisters of Szczecin.
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Her original name was Konstantin Chernenko
(Константин Черненко), after the President of the
USSR (1984-1985). She was renamed Russ (Русс) in
1989, and spent much of her life working in the Russian
Far East.
She was purchased by Albatros Expeditions and
completely refitted in 2017. She is now a 200-
passenger expedition vessel and is one of the strongest
polar cruise ships afloat. Here are some fun facts about
the “Seven Sisters”:
• All seven ships were built by Stocnia Szczecinska
shipyard in Szczecin, Poland between 1979-1986
• Main engines: 4 x Skoda Sulzer 6LZ40 total power
12800 kW, giving a maximum speed of 18 knots
• Most of the class have one bow thruster (736 kW)
and one stern thruster (426 kW); however, two
ships, including ours, built in 1986, have two stern
thrusters, each of 426 kW
• Feature Siemens stabilisers for seaworthiness
• Although built as ferries, they have a strengthened
car deck for transport of tanks
• Two of them had diving chambers
• MV Mikhail Sholokov had hull demagnetising
equipment so it could operate in minefields
• All of these ships have been scrapped except ours
and Konstantin Simonov – now Ocean Endeavour
Our ship has had a complex history:
1986-1987 In Baltic traffic, then Vladivostok to
Japan & S Korea
1989 renamed to Russ
1997-1999 In traffic Stockholm-Riga; 2000
Odessa-Haifa; 2002 back to
Vladivostok transporting cars from
Japan
2007 Sold to Sea Ferry Shipping in Majuro
and renamed 2010 to Atlantic;
renovations in Italy and in traffic
Stockholm-Helsinki-St. Petersburg
during summer and laid up (October
2010) in St Petersburg
2012 Sold to ISP in Miami and renamed to
Ocean Atlantic under Marshall
Islands flag
2013 Used as a hotel ship in the German
bight wind farm project
2015-2017 Laid up in Helsingborg and taken to
Gdansk in Poland, where totally
refitted
2017 Chartered to Quark Expeditions
2017-present Chartered to Albatros Expeditions.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN
Volume 2, Issue 9

An Unlikely Antarctic Explorer
Gregers Gjersøe – Snowshoe Master & Expedition Guide
In a suburb of Wellington, New Zealand, the local
cemetery is home to a rather unassuming grave.
The final resting place of Henry “Chippy” McNish,
one of the survivors of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s
1914 Endurance Expedition, the grave is also a
memorial to one of the most improbable of
Antarctic explorers.
In January of 1915, the Endurance got trapped in
the Antarctic pack ice. McNish's work prevented
the ship from flooding, but he couldn’t do
anything to stop it from being crushed. The ship
was abandoned and, much to McNish’s despair,
Shackleton ordered Mrs. Chippy to be shot, as
they couldn’t take her on their survival journey.
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McNish himself was a carpenter onboard the
Endurance, though he didn’t travel alone. During
the expedition, McNish brought along a cat that
followed him around like an overpossessive
wife. Soon enough, the
crew named the cat Mrs. Chippy,
although the expedition quickly
realised that Mrs. Chippy was a
gentleman, not a lady.
Mrs. Chippy was an unusual cat,
though an avid adventurer,
having climbed the Endurance’s
rigging lines on several
occasions. Mrs. Chippy also did
some very provocative strolls
across the roofs of the dogs’ kennels
and even once fell into the frigid water
below. Thankfully, the crew heard her cries and
quickly turned the ship around so they could
pluck her up from the icy cold waters and get her
to safety.
Also onboard the Endurance was a young man -
Perce Blackborow. Perce had travelled to Buenos
Aires looking for new employment, but wasn’t
hired; at 18, his youth and inexperience counted
against him. Somehow, he managed to sneak
aboard the ship, and he hid in a clothing locker
for three days. Eventually, he was discovered,
and Shackleton was furious with him, but was
sent to work in the galley where he became great
friends with Mrs. Chippy.
Now, the group had to make it back to safety. For
months, the expedition drifted through icy
waters until they made it to Elephant Island.
Once at Elephant Island, Shackleton set out
in a 22-foot-long open boat and made
an 800-mile crossing through the
rough waters of the South Atlantic
to South Georgia. McNish was
one of the five men who
accompanied Shackleton,
making improvements to the
boat to make the voyage
possible.
For the next fifteen years, McNish
lived a difficult life in Wellington
before passing away in 1930. He never
forgave Shackleton for shooting Mrs.
Chippy.
Nearly 30 years later, in 1959, the New Zealand
Antarctic Society realised that McNish had been
given a very poor burial in an unmarked grave.
The Society raised funds for a headstone and
even reunited McNish and Mrs. Chippy by adding
a life-sized bronze statue of Mrs. Chippy to the
grave.
Now Karori Cemetery near Wellington is a
pilgrimage site for Antarctic history buffs, who
visit McNish’s grave and see Mrs. Chippy
watching over him once again.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Rolling Our Way South
6 January 2020 – Drake Passage
By Heidi Ahvenainen
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It was the first morning of our expedition, a time
many have been waiting for. The adventure had
started! Some of us were awoken by Jamie’s
wake-up call at 7:45 AM, but others were already
up and about, enjoying the infamous Drake
Passage and trying to spot the wandering
Albatross and other sea birds. The Drake treated
us like an old friend on our first day and the sailing
was as smooth as Jamie had promised.
The day ahead was full of lectures and briefings
on what we could look forward to during our
expedition to Antarctica. The first lecture was
given by our resident ornithologist, Gui. He
educated us on seabirds of the Drake Passage,
and even the people who were not experienced
with bird identification were inspired to admire
the majestic seabirds of the Southern Ocean.
The briefing was followed by an opportunity for
all guests to bring their outer wear for inspection
and cleaning by the expedition team to ensure
that no seeds or foreign matter would
contaminate our landing sites. All throughout the
day’s activities, the Albatros team kept a lookout
from the bridge in the hope of spotting marine
life.
Afternoon tea time brings a break to the day and
a chance for even more delicious snacks. We
were beginning to realize that we would not go
hungry on this expedition. For those of us
interested in kayaking, a preliminary briefing was
held in the Viking lounge to explain how the
program runs.
Our second lecture of the morning was given by
our resident photographer Renato. He equipped
many of us with the skills necessary to capture the
wildlife and scenery of Antarctica on our cameras.
After a delicious lunch, afternoon activities began
with a mandatory briefing about visiting
Antarctica, where we were all reminded of how
we are expected to behave in this fragile
environment and how to leave it pristine.
It’s always nice to meet the most important man
on the vessel, and in the evening Captain Mykola
invited everyone to the Viking lounge for a
cocktail and a chance to introduce himself and his
senior officers. Champagne and canapés were
enjoyed before a delicious dinner in the Vinland
restaurant. To wrap up the evening, we finished
with a screening of the Frozen Planet
documentary series in the Viking lounge, with
popcorn!
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Penguins! Fun Facts for the Antarctic Adventurer
Gaby Pilson, Hiking Master & Expedition Guide
For many of us, the chance to see penguins waddling around in the snowy vastness of Antarctica is the reason
that we came to the White Continent. These charismatic sea birds are a fan-favourite for visitors to Antarctica,
but even cuddly-looking penguins are incredibly well adapted to one of the harshest environments on Earth.
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Depending on what book you read, there are 19
species of penguins. If you count all of the
subspecies, there are 25 total varieties of
penguins in the world, however, there are only
four truly Antarctic species of penguins: the
Adélie, Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Emperor. All of
the other penguins in the world live south of the
equator yet north of Antarctica, with the
exception of one species in the Galapagos whose
range barely crosses into the northern
hemisphere.
The largest penguin to have ever lived was the
now-extinct mega penguin, which weighed some
115 kg. These days, the largest penguin is the
Emperor Penguin, which tips the scales at 23 kg.
Alternatively, the smaller gentoo penguin weighs
just 15 kg.
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Although they nest, breed, and socialize on land,
penguins rely on the sea for survival. As
swimming and diving birds, penguins are adept
at fishing and must head to the ocean for their
sustenance. Indeed, the deepest diving bird in
the world is the Emperor Penguin, with a
record-breaking dive of 535 meters!
Penguins are amazing swimmers. They spend
much of their day searching for food in the
ocean, particularly for their favourite meal of
krill, squid, and small fish. The fastest swimming
penguin is the Gentoo, which is known to reach
speeds of upwards of 50 kilometres an hour
while zooming through the water.
Penguins are highly social birds, choosing to
nest in large colonies, where they will also raise
their young. Many penguin chicks, after
hatching stay with their parents for a few weeks
to a few months before forming large “crechés,”
many hundreds of individual teenage penguins
in size.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Approaching the ice
7 January 2020 – Drake Passage & S. Shetland
Islands
Written by Thomas Bauer
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Our smooth crossing continued and in the morning
in cloudy and foggy conditions we discovered that
during the night we had crossed 60 degrees South
and that we were now officially in Antarctica. The
fog further indicated that we had reached the
Antarctic Convergence, the biological boundary of
Antarctica, where the cold waters from the south
subside under the warmer waters from the north.
During the morning Gui gave us a very
comprehensive presentation on the different
Antarctic penguins we hope to encounter during
our voyage. His lecture was followed by a
mandatory briefing on how to get in and out of the
inflatable Zodiac boats. Without these very sturdy
boats our landings in Antarctica would not be
possible.
After lunch, our Kayak guides Slava and Toto
conducted a briefing on our kayak operations and
a significant number of guests expressed an
interest to experience Antarctica from a kayak.
As we approached the South Shetland Islands in
still fairly foggy conditions the bridge reported
that the first iceberg had been spotted on the
radar. No visual sighting had been possible so far.
In the afternoon our geologist Sara gave us a very
informative lecture on the geology of Antarctica
and this was later followed by a presentation by
guest presenter Dr. Bo Eberling on the very
current topic of climate change and greenhouse
gases.
After the briefing we all headed to the mudroom
to be issued with a pair of rubber boots. These will
keep our feet nice and dry during the wet landings
we will experience during our excursions.
During the evening briefing our expedition leader
announced that tomorrow we may be in a position
to set eyes on an iceberg knows as A 68. At 5,800
square kilometres A 68 is one of the largest
icebergs ever recorded.
After dinner we had the opportunity to listen to a
presentation by Dr. Elise Biersma on the topic of
polar ecology and adaptations to extreme
Antarctic climate.
© Renato Granieri
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Ice is Nice – Glacier Fun Facts
Gaby Pilson, Hiking Master & Expedition Guide
Glaciers have, quite literally, shaped our world. Without glaciers, the rolling hills and wide valleys we know
today would look very different, but it turns out that these icy giants have a much longer and more storied
history than many of us would initially suspect. Here are some of the best fun facts about glaciers:
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Not just anything can be a glacier. In fact, there’s
a size requirement that a piece of ice has to
meet to become a glacier. Anything considered a
glacier must be at least 0.1 km 2 (nearly 25 acres)
in area to be worthy of the name. Although
there’s a minimum size requirement to be
considered a glacier, there’s no upper limit to
glacierhood. The longest glacier on earth is the
Lambert Glacier of Antarctica, which measures
out to some 434 km (270 mi) long. The world’s
largest non-polar glacier is the Fedchenko
Glacier of Tajikistan, which measures a
respectable 77km (48mi) long.
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Glaciers are formed by snowflakes. Although it’s
crazy to think that a tiny snowflake can create
something as large as a glacier, without snow,
glaciers would never exist in the first place. To
form a glacier, massive amounts of snow must
accumulate and persist in a single location all
year long for hundreds, if not thousands of
years. During this time, the individual snowflakes
found in the snowpack change in a process
known as snowflake metamorphosis, where
individual ice grains fuse together and get bigger
and air bubbles get smaller. Once the icepack
builds up enough mass to start flowing downhill,
then, voila! We have a glacier.
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Glaciers are found all over the world, not just in
the polar regions. While the majority of glaciers
and glacial ice is concentrated in high northern
and southern latitudes, glaciers are found even
near the equator, such as on Mount Kilimanjaro
in Tanzania and in the mountains of Ecuador.
That being said, about half of the world’s
200,000 glaciers are found in one place: Alaska.
There, glaciers cover a whopping 72,500 km 2
(28,000 mi 2 ) of the US state’s total area. That’s a
lot of ice.
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Glaciers are basically really, really, really slow-moving rivers. To be considered a glacier, a large mass of ice
must be physically moving downhill. This movement downhill is driven by gravity and is the main reason
why glaciers also act as major agents of erosion. Since glaciers move downhill, they often remove and
transport large boulders and chunks of rock, depositing them much further downhill then where they
started.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Drake
Passage
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Whales: Friendly Giants of the Sea
Amanda Dalsgaard – Lecturer (Marine Biology) and Expedition Guide
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When one talks about whales, we must acknowledge
the vast diversity of whales on earth and the
uniqueness of each species. All whales fall into an
order of marine mammals known as Cetaceans. The
scientists who first discovered and named this order of
marine mammals, used the word cetacean or
‘ceatacea’ from the Greek word ‘ketos,’ meaning
monster.
Long ago, when whales were first scientifically
observed and recorded, people believed they were
monsters, due to their incredible size compared to
humans. Today, we know much more about the gentle
giants that roam our planet’s seas. Thanks to a number
scientific and technological advances, our knowledge
of these creatures will only continue to grow.
The order Cetacea is divided into two sub-orders,
Odontocete and Mysticeti. Odontocete, meaning
‘toothed-whale’, includes all of the whales and
dolphins with teeth. Mysticeti comes from the Latin
root meaning “mustache”, and includes all of the
whales that have baleen plates in their mouth instead
of teeth..
Since whales are marine mammals, they must breath
air to survive. They do so by breathing at the water’s
surface through their blow holes.
Interestingly enough, however, toothed whales have
only one blow hole or spout, while baleen whales have
two. Plus, many whales can be identified from afar
using the size and shape of their spout blow as well.
For example, grey whales tend to have spouts shaped
like hearts, while orcas have low bushy spouts. It’s
important to keep these differences in mind when
trying to observe whales from a ship as this
information can help identify cetaceans from far away
Another distinguishing characteristic that sets these
two sub-orders apart is the way that they
communicate. Odontocetes use a method of
communication called echolocation. This is best
described as a series or clicks and precise sounds that
are then reflected back to the animal and allows the
whale to ‘see’ their environment through noise. It is
the same communication style used by bats in
terrestrial ecosystems. Mysticetes on the other hand,
communicate through a variety of low-frequency
songs. These songs have been described by scientists
as being beautiful, mysterious and sometimes gloomy,
with the males being the most active singers of the
Mysticeti clan.
Regardless of the kind of whale you see however, any
encounter with one of these graceful marine giants,
however brief, is sure to be a memorable experience
for years to come.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Chasing Icebergs, Finding Penguins
8 January 2020 – Weddell Sea and Paulet Island
Written by Sara Hoffritz
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After a night travelling through the Antarctic Sound
we arrived by the Weddell Sea early in the morning.
Our Expedition Leader Jamie woke us up to the
announcement of the ship being surrounded by ice
bergs. We all hurried out on the bow to enjoy the
stunning views.
We enjoyed a few hours on the island followed by a
cruise around the nearby icebergs before being
engulfed in a carpet of fog. Once back onboard the
Ocean Atlantic our journey continued at a slower
pace to compensate for reduced visibility.
In the Weddell Sea the team had hoped to hunt
down the largest existing iceberg, known as A-68.
Iceberg A-68 broke off of the Larsen B ice shelf in
2017 and has been drifting in the Weddell sea ever
since. The iceberg is on its journey away from
Antarctica to its last days in warmer water. Upon
arriving at the Antarctic sound it quickly became
clear that the largest moving object on the planet
was already disintegrating to such a degree that ice
was preventing us from getting close.
As the afternoon arrived the fog had not improved,
and the sheer amount of icebergs had reduced our
speed such that the afternoon’s plans were changed.
Instead of landing at Brown Bluff we spent the rest
of the day learning about Antarctic whales and the
geology of Antarctic ice. In the evening we were
entertained by a historical reenactment of the heroic
age of Antarctic exploration, followed by a lecture by
Dr. Thomas Bauer on the human history of the
Antarctic.
With a quick change of plans we used the
opportunity of being in the sound to land at the
rarely visited Paulet Island. Paulet Island is a stark
place, and the low hanging mist we encountered
there was a bit surreal. Upon our arrival on shore
we were greeting by the raucous cries of 100,000
mating pairs of Adelie penguins, and their chicks!
The Adelies extended as far as the eye could see,
from the shore to the tops of distant ridgelines. It
was a spectacular sight.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

The Geological Structure of the Antarctic Peninsula
David Macdonald, Lecturer (Geology) & Expedition Guide
This cartoon shows what the Antarctic Peninsula looked like 100 million years ago (mya). The main points to
note are:
• The peninsula was a continuation of the Andes. They were connected until 35 mya
• The peninsula was a volcanic arc from about 200 mya3 until about 25 mya
• Volcanism ended 50 mya in the south and 20 mya off Brabant Island
• Only the South Shetlands Islands have any volcanic activity now
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There are three main geological domains, each formed of multiple rock units:
1. The basement domain (grey and brown colours) contains sediments scraped off the ocean floor which were
changed by heat and pressure (metamorphosed) in the subduction zone and during folding and
deformation. These metamorphic rocks span a wide range of ages from 299-65 mya. They tend to be older
on the east coast of the peninsula. These rocks are best seen in Paradise Harbour, at the shag colony near
Brown Station.
2. The igneous domain contains rocks crystallised from magma. This includes both plutonic rocks (where the
magma crystallised slowly within the earth’s crust) and volcanic rocks (where the magma was erupted as
lava and ash). Again, the rocks span a wide range of ages from about 210-25 mya, and the younger rocks
tend to be in the west. These are the commonest rocks seen in the Peninsula and are well displayed in the
South Shetland Islands (e.g. Half Moon Island, or Yankee Harbour) or on the peninsula (e.g. Cuverville
Island). Plutonic rocks form Goudier Island at Port Lockroy.
3. The sedimentary domain contains rocks eroded from the volcanic arc and deposited in sedimentary basins,
either on the eastern, Weddell Sea side (in a very large structure called the Larsen Basin), or in smaller
basins to the west (the largest of which is the Fossil Bluff Basin on Alexander Island). Sedimentary rocks are
not seen on most peninsula cruises (unless they visit the area of James Ross Island), although there are
sedimentary rocks with abundant fossils interbedded with volcanic rocks west of Hannah Point, in Walker
Bay.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

The White Continent
9 January 2020 – Hydrurga Rocks & Portal Point
By Sandra Ophorst
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This morning we reached “Hydrurga Rocks” at 64°S.
They are rocky islands located in the Palmer
Archipelago. It’s named after the leopard seal’s latin
name, Hydrurga leptonyx. We landed at a narrow
beach which is made up largely of pebbles and
cobbles. At the landing site we were welcomed by
Weddell seals near the beach.
There was so much to see on this tiny island. A colony
of around one thousand Chinstrap Penguins, which
already had chicks. Brown Skuas and nesting Kelp Gulls
could also be spotted. We also saw nesting Blue Eyed
Shags with chicks which were almost the same size as
their parents.
The photographers amongst us were especially happy
for the Weddell seal lying in front of a huge iceberg. A
true Antarctic scene! No miracle that some started
lying on the ground and turning towards seals to catch
this moment with their camera. A fantastic landing
with almost no wind.
Portal Point lies northeast of the Reclus Peninsula and
was once home to a British hut, called Cape Reclus,
that was established in 1956. We were excited as this
was our first chance to step foot on the Antarctic
continent itself, so far we had been exploring only
Islands. The hut has been removed from the site and
only the foundation remains on the site today.
We had a chance to enjoy the company of Weddell
seals, Brown Skuas and Antarctic terns while admiring
all the shades of white and blue surrounding us. During
the second part of the landing we got some visitors:
Adelie penguins.
During our zodiac cruise some of us were even treated
with the amazing experience of watching humpback
whales at play. These giants of the sea can become
quite rambunctious under the right circumstances.
Luckily they are always aware of their surrounds so our
inflatable zodiacs were
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

When and How the Earth Got Cold
David Macdonald, Leturer (Geology) & Expedition Guide
The Earth’s climate has two end-member states:
greenhouse and icehouse. In a greenhouse climate,
there are no polar icecaps (although there may be
valley glaciers in high mountain areas) – the climate of
the Cretaceous Period (144-65 million years ago) is a
typical greenhouse. We are currently in an icehouse
climate, since there are icecaps at or near both poles.
Although life on Earth goes back 3.5 billion years, the
main expansion in numbers of species and hence of
easily found fossils occurred 540 million years ago.
During the time from then until now, greenhouse
climates have dominated, with three periods of
icehouse climate, lasting a total of about 100 million
years. Our current icehouse period began abruptly 35
million years ago, with formation of an icecap in
Antarctica. Why did it happen then, and why did it have
such an abrupt beginning?
Water temperature (°C)
Antarctic convergence
October 2019
8
6
4
2
0
54 56 58 60 62 64
Latitude (°S)
17
Figure 2: Temperatures in the Drake Passage from Friday 25
October to Sunday 27 October 2019 as Ocean Atlantic sailed south
across the Antarctic Convergence, where the sea temperature falls
below 4°C.
It was the severing of the link between the Antarctic
Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego that allowed deep cold
water to circulate around the planet at 50-60°S and
thermally isolate Antarctica from the rest of the world.
This situation continues today (Figure 1)
The key area for this was the Drake Passage, which is
the western end of the Scotia Sea (Figure 3). Geological
and geophysical studies of the sea floor show that the
Antarctica-South America link was severed by the
growth of ocean crust, beginning 35 million years ago.
Opening of this deep-water gateway cooled the planet
and turned Antarctica into the white continent.
Figure 1: Thermal structure of the Southern Ocean showing the
position of the Antarctic Convergence (Polar Front) at the junction
of the dark blue and mid blue shading. This is the line of the 4°C
isotherm, where Antarctic surface water plunges below cold
temperate water.
The first, and most important factor was that we had a
polar continent. Antarctica was in roughly its present
position over the South Pole, so would have had
strongly differentiated winters and summers. However,
although the former supercontinent of Gondwana had
largely broken up by then, there was still a land bridge
to South America and Antarctica was still forested,
probably with a migratory fauna. Warm currents bathed
Antarctica’s shores and, 35 million years ago, the
temperature of the Southern Ocean was a relatively
mild 6°C.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Figure 3: The Drake Passage and the Scotia Sea formed from 50
million years ago, when there was slow extension between South
America and the Antarctic Peninsula which stretched the crust and
allowed surface waters to circulate through this former land
bridge. The temperature of the southern Ocean fell from 12°C to
6°C between 50-35 million years ago, then abruptly fell to 0°C
when the deep water gateway of the scotia Sea opened, sundering
the link between Antarctica and South America and allowing
continuous circulation of deep water, thermally isolating
Antarctica.
Volume 2, Issue 9

© Renato Granieri
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020 Volume 2, 2, Issue 98

South, Way South
10 January 2020 – Port Lockroy & Petermann Island
Written by Sara Hoffritz
19
While the morning seemed to be very quiet in regard
to sea life, the situation changed once we arrived in
the beautiful entrance to the Lemaire Channel. The
channel was towered by high, sharp peaks on both
sides and immersed in a carpet of mist with bulky
glaciers everywhere. In the water multiple groups of
humpback whales were eating and resting, along
with a few Minke whales and several seals.
© Renato Granieri
Friday was our last expedition day around the
Antarctic Peninsula itself. We had an ambitious plan
to head South, way South. One of the most scenic
areas of the Antarctic peninsula is the Lemaire
Channel, a narrow body of water that is 11
kilometers long and flanked on both sides by
magnificent mountains and glaciers. Our goal was to
travel down the Lemaire, which is often impassable
due to large icebergs, and to land at the remote
Petermann Island.
We started the day with a quick visit to the penguin
post office at Port Lockroy, a historic British Antarctic
Survey base on Goudier Island. We approached port
Lockroy with mixed feelings. On one hand we were
filled with the joy of being able to send postcards
home and to see the Gentoo penguins and their
chicks that reside on the small island. On the other
hand, we also had to say goodbye to one of our
expedition guides, Heidi, who was to live and work
for a couple of months on this remote and isolated
island.
In the late afternoon we reached Petermann Island –
the southernmost point on our trip. The island
accommodated a small hut of an old Argentinian
station, but now its main occupants were the
competing Gentoo and Adelie colonies.
Our afternoon zodiac cruise gave us the opportunity
to get a close look at a big and picturesque leopard
seal enjoying what must have been a well-deserved
rest on a small ice flow. Inspired by the resting
leopard seal we arrived back on the ship for a dinner
and relaxing evening as we passed back through the
Lemaire Channel.
© Renato Granieri
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Deception Island
11 January 2020– Baily Head
Written by Sandra Ophorst
.
20
During the morning we sailed to an Island called
Deception Island. It’s part of the South Shetland
Islands and is located at 65°S.
Deception Island was named for this opening in what
otherwise appears to be an island fortressed by
cliffs, allowing access to her large inner harbour. This
relatively safe and protected bay in her interior,
along with her prime position in the rich Southern
Ocean, made the island a popular location and base
for sealing operations and shore based whaling.
There was quite a lot of swell on the beach and a
landing was not possible, so our expedition leader
Jamie decided to do a Zodiac Cruise to enjoy Baily
Head from the seaside. Our zodiacs were
surrounded by chinstrap penguins. We also enjoyed
gorgeous rock formations while we were cruising
around.
After our Zodiac Cruise we had the possibility to
jump in the Antarctic waters for a polar plunge. Only
the most brave guests decided to jump into the sea,
which had a temperature of 1,7 °C. These brave
souls can now be officially declared to be real
Antarctic heroes!
While we enjoyed our dinner, we slowly started
sailing north towards the Drake Passage. We are all
sad to leave, but our minds are full of beautiful
memories we will never forget. How many people
can say that they visited Antarctica and actually
walked on the 7 th Continent!?
During the late evening the expedition team
organised a Bingo-Evening in the Viking theatre, and
afterwards we enjoyed the calm seas as we went to
sleep.
Baily Head is a rocky headland exposed to the
Bransfield Strait on the South East coast of
Deception Island. It’s a narrow valley that rises
steeply inland to a semi-circular ridgeline, giving the
impression of a natural amphitheatre. There is a very
big colony of Chinstrap Penguins located there.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

A Brief History of the Zodiac
Steve Traynor, Zodiac Master
In expedition cruising, the most important tool we use is the Zodiac inflatable boat. These manoeuvrable,
reliable, and robust vessels are the workhorse of the expedition cruise industry, from the north of Svalbard
to the southern end of the Antarctic Peninsula. They have a long history – as you can see from the stages
below, many different inventions needed to come together to create the craft we use today.
1838 Charles Goodyear (USA) discovered the process for vulcanising rubber (a US patent was granted
in 1844) – this process is used for hardening and strengthening rubber.
1843 Goodyear’s process was stolen by Thomas Hancock (UK) using the process of reverse
engineering; less controversially, Hancock invented the “masticator” – a machine for re-using
rubber scraps – this made the rubber industry much more efficient.
1845 The first successful inflatable boat (Halkett boat) was designed by Lieutenant Peter Halkett
(UK), specifically for Arctic operations. Halkett Boats were used by the Orcadian explorer, John
Rae, in his successful expedition to discover the fate of the Franklin Expedition.
1866 Four men made the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from New York to Britain on a threetube
inflatable raft.
1896 The original Zodiac company was founded by Maurice Mallet (France) to produce airships.
1909 The first outboard motor was invented by Ole Evinrude in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1912 The loss of the Titanic and subsequent shipping losses during World War 1 proved the need for
inflatable rafts for use as supplementary lifeboats.
1919 RFD firm (UK) and the Zodiac company (France) started building inflatable boats.
1934 The airship company, Zodiac, invented the inflatable kayak and catamaran
1942 The Marine Raiders – an elite unit of the US Marine Corps – used inflatable boats to carry out
raids and landings in the Pacific theatre.
1950 Alain Bombard first combined the outboard engine, a rigid floor and an inflatable boat (built by
the Zodiac company).
1952 Alain Bombard crossed the Atlantic Ocean with his inflatable; after this, his good friend, the
famous diver Jacques-Yves Cousteau, started using them.
1960 Zodiac licensed production to a dozen companies in other countries because of their lack of
manufacturing capacity in France.
22
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Antarctica: A Continent for Science
David Macdonald, Lecturer (Geology) & Expedition Guide
Until the advent of mass tourism, Antarctica’s tagline was: “A continent for science”.
23
Antarctica affects the rest of the world in a variety of
ways, so “Antarctic Science” should really be “Global
science that happens in Antarctica”. Although many
early expeditions were purely geographical in scope,
there were some important scientific expeditions in the
late 19 th to early 20 th centuries. In this “Golden Age” of
exploration, there were many scientific contributions
from Antarctica which changed our view of the earth’s
evolution and environment.
Indeed, three expeditions brought back proof that
Antarctica once had a warm climate. Scott’s first
expedition (1901-1904) found coal from 250 million
years ago in the Transantarctic Mountains;
Nordenskjӧld’s Swedish Antarctic Expedition found
warm-water fossils on James Ross Island; and the Scotia
Expedition under Bruce (1902-1904) dredged
fossiliferous 500 million-year-old limestone from the
Weddell Sea. Scott’s second expedition (1910-1913)
found fossil leaves(Glossopteris) in the Transantarctic
Mountains. These fossils belong to an extinct order of
seed ferns from 299-252 million years ago, only found
in the southern hemisphere continents and India. They
were used by Wegener in 1924 in his work on
continental drift to reconstruct the former
supercontinent of Gondwana.
In the years after the First World War, the focus
changed from individual expeditions to national
pursuits, such as the British Discovery Investigations –
the first permanent oceanographic body in the world.
During 33 years (1918–51) of pioneering work, the
research ships collected an enormous amount of
oceanographic, biological, and geographical data.
Among the results of the investigations was the
discovery of both the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the
Antarctic Convergence - the natural boundary of
Antarctica.
By the end of the Second World War, the move to
create national organisations was complete, with the
formation of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey
(now British Antarctic Survey), the Australian National
Research Expeditions) and other civilian operations
(France, New Zealand, South Africa, etc).
As a result of these organisations and better logistics,
the rate of scientific discovery soared, and new polarspecific
studies proliferated. Some highlights include:
• 1957-58: The International Geophysical Year (IGY)
was an 18-month collaboration between 67
countries. Antarctica was the focus, with 12 nations
participating. Many new scientific stations were
created and the IGY was a resounding success as it
led directly to the Antarctic Treaty
• 1959-1996: The discovery and delineation of
subglacial Lake Vostok is a great example of scientific
cooperation. Lab studies showed that ice under very
high pressure reverts to water and in 1964, seismic
soundings from Vostok Station were used to
measure the thickness of the ice sheet. This
suggested the existence of a subglacial lake. British
airborne ice-penetrating radar in the 1970s detected
unusual radar readings, suggesting a freshwater lake
below the ice. In 1991, a radar satellite revealed
that this subglacial water body is one of the world’s
largest lakes. We now know that there are at least
140 subglacial lakes in Antarctica.
• 1980-present: The US-funded collection and curation
of Antarctic meteorites has recovered about 22,000
meteorites from Antarctica (about 75% of all known
meteorites worldwide). There are samples from the
Moon, Mars, and asteroids.
• 1985: In hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica was
discovered from ground-based instruments at Halley
Bay and Faraday (British Antarctic Survey).
• 1986: Research at McMurdo Station, the main U.S.
scientific station in Antarctica, established that
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as the probable cause of
the Antarctic ozone hole (US NSF). These two bits of
work lead to signing of the Madrid Protocol on 1987,
banning CFCs.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Northward Bound
12 January 2020– Drake Passage
Written by Martin Schuster
The Ocean Atlantic pushed gently through what Jamie
referred to as ‘One of the calmest Drake crossings in my
memory’. Our 8:45 AM wake-up found most of already
up and about enjoying the sea breeze and preparing for
our morning brunch. While we waited, we shared
highlights from the previous days of adventure with
each other.
24
After lunch we were able to travel underneath the
Antarctic ice with expedition guide Martin, who has
spent four seasons working as a SCUBA diver for the US
Antarctic Program. Martin explained to us why we
might be interested in studying the sea floor of the
Antarctic continent and how we go about doing so.
During sea voyages it is quite common to develop a
routine; to lose track of time in a foreign place. After
four days on the Antarctic peninsula we have grown
accustomed to early wake up calls, bundling ourselves
up in waterproof expedition gear, and experiencing new
animals and vistas. Today, we were able to decompress
a bit, and learn a bit more about our newfound polar
environment.
Amanda, our resident marine biologist and expedition
guide, then shared some information on the various
seals of the Antarctic. We were able to delve a bit more
deeply into our newfound companions the Weddell Seal
and Crabeater Seal (hint: they do not eat crab!). We
also learned more about the solitary Leopard Seal that
we had the pleasure of interacting with at Petermann
Island.
Thomas, a former university lecturer in both Hong Kong
and Australia, presented a brief history of the Antarctic
treaty. He explained that under the treaty the Antarctic
continent actually belongs to all of us, and to none of
us. All signatories have pledged to forego any
exploitation of mineral resources on the continent and
also to protect the wildlife and their habitat from
human impacts.
After relaxing for a bit and settling our bills, we had our
final recap in the Viking Theatre, followed by yet
another scrumptious dinner in the Vinland restaurant.
Later, the gentle rocking of the Ocean Atlantic lulled us
to sleep on our second night at sea during the
northbound journey.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
© Renato Granieri Photography
Volume 2, Issue 9

Fire in the Antarctic
Gregers Gjersøe, Snowshoe Master & Expedition Guide
Fire is one of the greatest threats in Antarctica thanks
to the region’s very dry climate, frequent strong winds,
and nearly complete lack of liquid freshwater. Due to
the continent’s isolation with and little possibility of
rescue for weeks or months, a fire in the Antarctic is a
potentially very disastrous event.
Although it is covered in snow and ice, the cold
temperatures of Antarctica make the White Continent
very dry. As it is one of the windiest places on Earth,
there is almost always a strong wind blowing much of
the time, more than strong enough to fan any flames.
As the temperatures across the whole continent of
Antarctica is averaging below freezing, there is unlikely
to be very much liquid water to fight fires. So, the
response to fire is usually to make sure everyone is out
of danger and safe and then stand back and watch it
burn itself out.
Bases in Antarctica are often designed to survive fires
because they are made up of a number of separate
buildings, each with a significant distance between
them. Many bases have emergency supplies stored in a
hut near the base but well away. In these huts, there
are often enough supplies and ample shelter for the
base’s crew to be able to survive a fire or emergency
until help can arrive.
The Argentine Antarctic base and scientific research
station, “Brown Station,” is named after Admiral
William Brown, the father of the Argentine Navy.
25
Located on the Sanaviron Peninsula along Paradise
Harbour’s Danco Coast, from 1951 to 1984 it served as
a permanent research base, though, since then, it is
open only during the summer season.
During its heyday, the station was home to one of the
most complete biology laboratories on the Antarctic
Peninsula, featuring a main house, as well as an
additional building exclusively for scientific research.
This building was equipped with three labs, a
photography workshop, an emergency radio station, an
office and a library.
Unfortunately, Brown Station’s original facilities were
burned down by the station’s doctor on 12 April 1984
after he was ordered to stay on for yet another winter,
despite the original terms of his contract and his desire
to see his fiancé once again. As you can imagine, the
stress of Antarctica’s harsh winter conditions can take
its toll on residents and explorers of the region, driving
them to take extreme measures to get back home.
The doctor simply couldn’t bear to stay on for another
winter and he couldn’t stand the isolation as the days
drew darker. His solution? To force an evacuation of
himself and his colleagues in the only way plausible
manner: by burning the station down.
After the fire, the station’s personnel were rescued by
the USS Hero and taken to United States’ Palmer
Station. Argentina later rebuilt the base, but it is now
only occupied during the summer months. The station’s
doctor was sent to prison for arson and his fiancé
decided to call off the engagement.
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Towards the Horn
13 January 2020– Drake Passage Day 2
Written by Steve Egan
26
Continuing our incredibly smooth run across the Drake
Passage towards Argentina, we woke to clearing drizzle
on calm seas & enjoyed a sure-footed & relaxed
breakfast served up by our super Restaurant Team.
Normally a feared stretch of open water regularly
serving up forbidding swells & stiff winds as we cross
swords with the mightiest current in the world, the
Circumpolar Current that swishes around Antarctica, we
steamed North with hardly a hint of its alter ego
discernable.
Jamie invited us into the lounge to give us a brief
update on our disembarkation procedure for our
morning in Ushuaia tomorrow, a reminder to enjoy the
day here together as much as possible before inevitably
saying our goodbyes some hours hence. Our Kayak
Team then took the stage to personally thank the many
participants on this voyage who chose to add a quiet
paddle-power optional excursion to their expedition &
enjoyed a different & peaceful perspective of the ice &
wildlife. Upstairs in the Bistro Yogamanda led a fun &
stretchy beginners class in simple Yoga techniques for
those wanting to unwind from the many adventures we
shared in Antarctica.
A scrumptious lunch led into a vibrant showing of the
classic film ‘Around Cape Horn’, a personal retelling of
the good ol’ days of sailing rigs around the feared Cape
Horn, in black & white & narrated by the film maker.
Exhilarating & fascinating! Perfectly timed, Ocean
Atlantic slipped stealthily into view of the fabled legend
itself – Cape Horn – the southern-most tip of the
Americas.
We then filed in to see our Ship’s photographer Renato
take us for a photographic walk down memory lane with
the end of voyage slideshow & this followed into a very
entertaining & fun Charity Auction where all manner of
things were up for grabs including Shelli’s great wildlife
depictions adorning our Captains chart of the Expedition
& even dinner with Expediton Team members on offer
to raise funds for worthy causes.
We soon found ourselves with Champagne in hand
toasting with the Captin to a most wonderful shared
adventure to the most dreamed of destination on Earth.
Mother nature had smiled upon us, we thoroughly
enjoyed the comradery of good companions for the
journey and we really did see the best that Antarctica
had to offer. What an amazing trip!
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN
Volume 2, Issue 9

King of the Southern Winds
Sandra Ophorst, Lecturer & Expedition Guide
The wandering albatross is an impressive bird with the
world’s largest wingspan of up to 3.5 meters in length
and a weight of up to 11 kilograms. Unfortunately, the
number of wandering albatrosses is rapidly declining
with only 20,100 individuals left as of October 2019
(Red List, World Conservation Union)
The wandering albatross is rarely seen on land and
gathers only to breed, at which time it forms large
colonies on remote islands, such as South Georgia. The
female lays a single white egg and both sexes share
incubation, which lasts about 60 to 80 days. Both sexes
feed the youngster by regurgitating food, a process
that can continue for up to nine months.
The nesting cycle of wandering albatrosses is so long,
they can’t complete it in one year. So, they nest every
other year. When young albatrosses become
independent and leave their nest site, they begin a
multi-year foray on the open ocean and will not return
to land until they are old enough to breed. This can
take up to 10 years of their 50 year average lifespan.
28
The wandering albatross is famous for its dynamic
flight. They turn into the wind to gain height, then glide
back down to the sea to gain speed. Sometimes they
glide for hours without rest or even a single flap of
their wings. Indeed, this principle was used to design
airplanes, especially gliders that have albatross-like
wings.
As a result of these wings, however, an albatross’
landing process often looks a bit comical as their
narrow wings do not allow for a slow approach. So,
they often land on their feet and then tumble forward
and slide on their bellies. The biggest threats to the
wandering albatross are pollution and large-scale
commercial tuna fisheries. These tuna fishing boats are
equipped with up to 20,000 fish baited hooks and
these lines can be up to 100km long.
Unfortunately, these fishing lines often attract
albatrosses get caught up on the hooks and drown as
they are cast out at sea. Organisations such as Hookpod
are trying to save the albatrosses from the dangers of
long line fishing vessels by providing fishing boats with
“hookpods” that cover the barb and point of the hook
during setting, reducing the likelihood of an albatross
by-catch.
© Gaby Pilson
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

Home Again
14 January 2020- Ushuaia
29
After last night’s end-of-voyage festivities, we awoke
much too early for our final morning on the Ocean
Atlantic. Although we wish we could stay, we started
the process of leaving behind the ship and the people
we’ve come to know so well over the past week.
Our bags were packed and stowed in the corridors,
ready for our early-morning busses and flights back
home. After nine whole days immersed in the
landscapes and amongst the wildlife of the Antarctic,
it was time to return home or to wherever our life’s
journeys brings us.
And so – farewell, adieu, and goodbye. Together we
have visited an incredible and vast wilderness. We
have experienced magnificent mountain vistas, seen
icebergs roll and crack, felt the power of the elements
and seen how quickly they can change. We enjoyed
wonderful food and comfortable surroundings aboard
the Ocean Atlantic.
We boarded zodiacs and cruised through icy bays at
the end of the Earth. We shared unique moments,
held engaging conversations, and laughed together
over beers and coffees. We’ve made new friends and
experienced the power of expeditionary travel.
The expedition team hopes that we have helped to
make this the trip of a lifetime - one that will persist in
your memories for weeks, months, and years, to
come. Although we must say good-bye to these places
we have come to know and love, it is a fond farewell
as we are all true ambassadors for the Antarctic and
all the beauty it holds.
On behalf of Albatros Expeditions, our captain and
crew, the expedition team, and everyone else who
helped make this journey a resounding success, it has
been a pleasure travelling with you. We hope that you
will come back and experience these wonderful places
with us once again!
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

By the Numbers…
30
Voyage Statistics:
Southernmost Point:
Total Distance Travelled:
65 o 10’35’S 64 o 06’57’ W
1806 nautical miles
Excursion Locations:
Paulet Island: 63 o 34’21’S 55 o 47’57’W
Hydrurga Rocks: 63 o 31’43’S 60 o 30’41’W
Portal Point: 64 o 29’96’S 61 o 44’49’W
Port Lockroy:
Petermann Island:
Baily Head:
64 o 48’30’S 63 o 31’81’ W
65 o 10’35’S 64 o 06’57’ W
62 o 58’83’S 60 o 30’42’ W
During our time on the M/V Ocean Atlantic, we consumed:
Beef
580kg
Lamb
190kg
Pork
750kg
Poultry
870kg
Cold Cuts
200kg
Fish & Seafood
450kg
Eggs 3560
Milk
720L
Cheese
100kg
Ice Cream
200L
Vegetables
3200kg
Fruit
3600kg
Toilet Paper
960 rolls
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9

A Final Note…
31
As any good expedition comes to a close, many of us experience the
effervescent excitement that comes when we immerse ourselves
completely in an adventure. Although we all came into this voyage with
our own expectations and personal motivations, on the ship, we quickly
learned that the best plan is the one that we end up doing.
While weather and the landscape
can conspire against us in the
southern latitudes, the right mindset
can make all of the difference.
Wind, rain, sleet, and snow make no
difference when we come prepared
for an adventure and all the
excitement it holds. Whether you
saw what you came for or you
experienced something else
entirely, when you set out on an
expedition, you come for the
mountains and the wildlife, but stay
for people and places you meet
along the way.
Although we all eventually have to
leave behind our beloved Ocean
Atlantic, there are always a few
things we can take home from an
expedition:
• An acceptance and embracement
of adversity and uncertainty
when the natural world alters
our plans.
• A fondness for the wild and a
strong desire to keep remote
natural locations as beautiful and
free as they can be.
• An insatiable interest in learning
more about the people, places,
and cultures in some of the most
remote parts of the world.
As you unpack you bags, you may
find souvenirs and keepsakes from
your journey. Your camera may be
filled with countless photos,
however blurry, of the many
animals and mountains that have
crossed our paths. At the end of the
day, however, what matters most is
the experience of, the journey to,
and the memories of these wild and
wonderful places.
Best wishes from all of us on the
expedition team as you continue on
with your adventures!
Jamie Watts
Expedition Leader
Marieke Egan
Assistant Expedition Leader
Thank you for experiencing the Antarctic with us at Albatros
Expeditions. We hope to see you aboard the Ocean Atlantic
again in the future!
Phil Hunter
Assistant Expedition Leader
5 JAN 2020 – 14 JAN 2020
Volume 2, Issue 9