Antarctic 2020 Voyage 11 Log

23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020 Volume 2, Issue 11
Albatross
Magazine
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:
Jon Marin
Gaby Pilson & Jon Marin
Front Cover Image:
Back Cover Image:
Photography Contributors:
Sandra Petrowiz
Sandra Petrowiz
Sandra Petrowitz
Yuri Choufour
Werner Kruse
Renato Granieri
Gaby Pilson
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020 Volume 2, Issue 11

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: At Sea in the Southern Ocean
Ice is Nice – Glacier Fun Facts
Whales: Friendly Giants of the Sea
Day 4: The South Shetlands
The Geological Structure of the Antarctic
Peninsula
Day 5: The White Continent
When and How the Earth Got Cold
Day 6: Wildlife of the Antarctic
Day 7: The Last Day
A Brief History of the Zodiac
Antarctica: A Continent for Science
Day 8: Northward Bound
Fire in the Antarctic
Day 9: The Beagle Channel
King of the Southern Winds
Day 10: Home Again
By the Numbers
A Final Note
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4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
21
23
24
25
26
27
29
30
31

The Voyage
3
The following map traces the approximate route that the M/V Ocean Atlantic took 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.
© Renato Granieri
© Yuri Choufour
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Meet the Team
4
Ted Creek
Assistant Expedition
Leader
Samuel
Expedition Leader
Wan Meng Chieh
Assistant Expedition
Leader
Kevin Burke
Zodiac Master
Slava Nikitin
Kayak Master
Thomas Bruun
Kayak Guide
Kim Schuster
Equipment Master
Nadine Smith
Shop Manager
Rose Li
Translator & Guide
Guillaume de Remacle
Lecturer & Guide
Sandra Petrowitz
Photographer
Shannon Jensen
First Aid Responder
Mark Hebert
Lecture & Guide
Jes “Yeti” Gravgaard
Lecturer & Guide
Jon Marin
Lecturer & Guide
Nick Gan
Translator & Guide
Alejandro Ursino
Lecturer & Guide
Pai Liu
Translator & Guide
Chloe Shang
Shop Assistent
Steve Egan
Lecturer & Guide
Rashida Lim
Translator & Guide
Zoy Li Jianqun
Lecturer & Guide
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

5
Day 1 - Southward Bound
23 January 2020 - Embarkation Day
As our flights touched down on the runway in
Ushuaia, we were treated to delightful views of
Tierra del Fuego and the city that marks the start of
our Antarctic adventure. Weary from our recent
flights, yet excited for the adventure to come, we
made our way to the port of Ushuaia.
Our adventure to Antarctica started in the
afternoon as the first busses drove along the pier in
beautiful weather and stopped all the way at the
end of it, where Ocean Atlantic was anchored.
Members of the Expedition Team welcomed us as
we boarded the experienced Antarctica ship and
most of us couldn’t hide our excitement.
Everybody checked in, settled in their rooms and
started to explore the massive ship, which was to
be our home for the next many days. After a while,
it was time for the mandatory safety briefing
followed by an important safety drill. The
recognizable alarm went off throughout the ship
and people gathered at their muster stations and
later at the emergency boats.
Shortly after, the Ocean Atlantic slowly started to
move away from the pier and began its journey
through the Beagle channel, before heading
straight South towards the incredible Antarctica.
Meanwhile, Expedition Leader Sam hosted the
welcome briefing in the Viking Lounge and Hotel
Manager Oliver introduced the ship and the many
people working on it to provide an excellent
experience, including the food and beverage manager,
the head of housekeeping and the purser. Sam then
introduced the different members of the expedition
team and talked about the plans and details for the
voyage, including a very pleasant weather forecast for
the infamous Drake Passage.
The evening ended with a big welcome dinner, where
people got to know their new travel companions. Many
went to bed early after several days of travel. However,
a few went outside on the decks, where a they spotted
a couple of whales swimming past the ship in the
distance, marking the start of a great wildlife journey in
the southern hemisphere.
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 Ushuaia
and south, to the future and all the wonders it holds.
“
We can only ever experience true
beauty in nature when we are
brave enough to seek it out…
”
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020 Volume 2, Issue 11

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.
6
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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

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.
7
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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Day 2 - Rolling Our Way South
24 January 2020 – Drake Passage
8
After dropping off the pilot last night, we left the
Beagle Channel and headed south into a very calm
Drake Passage. The slight winds were appreciated by
everyone but it meant that our keen bird watchers
were not able to observe many flying seabirds including
the wandering albatross. These birds need strong winds
to soar and with luck we will be able to see them on the
way back from Antarctica when we cross the Drake
Passage again.
A calm sea greeted us for our first full day together on
Ocean Atlantic as she sailed surely southwards toward
the promise of a snowy white continent, lost at the
edge of the known world. A lovely breakfast as the
skies brightened to sunny, gave us a nutritious
beginning to the events of the day. It was a relaxed
start as many of us were still finding our sea legs even
as we rolled very gently across the Drake Passage.
Our ornithologist Yeti rolled out an entertaining
introduction to the Seabirds of the Southern Ocean,
giving us a great taste of the encounters we could look
forward to with these feathered friends who
accompany us on our passage to Antarctica. Time out
on deck with Birdmen Yeti & Gui was full of curious
questions about winged companions & time ‘flew’,
before we knew it, it was time for a great lunch put on
by our consistently creative galley team, fuelling us for
an afternoon of further activities.
After lunch, in the mudroom, we distributed our
waterproof boots, complimentary for use for the
journey ahead & generally had a fun social time in
doing so. After an invitation to inspect the Ocean
Atlantic bridge & a fleeting sighting of Pilot Whales, we
gathered in the Bistro for some more fun with
dumpling making enjoyed by all who joined us.
A day of social moments, equipment sorting &
education brought us to our evening briefing & recap,
where Expedition leader Sam gave us a preview of
tomorrow’s weather & the Team peppered our minds
with some introductory thoughts & perspectives about
Antarctica, leading us into a delightful evening meal as
Ocean Atlantic steamed on south towards the horizon.
The Chinese New Year was upon us already & a buzz
evident throughout our group brought us together to
celebrate this wonderful occassion. We had crossed
the Antarctic Convergence into this biological zone
unique on Earth & considered ourselves already in
Antarctica. A throughly enjoyable night of socialising
led us deep into the evening.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Penguins! Fun Facts for the Antarctic Adventurer
Gaby Pilson, Hiking Master & Expedition Guide
9
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.
1
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.
2
3
4
5
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.
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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Day 3 - At Sea in the Southern
Ocean
25 January 2020 – Drake Passage and our first
landing
10
Our second day crossing the Drake, what a
blessing; nothing but smooth sailing. Lots of birds
were in sight, large groups of Cape Petrels as well
as Wandering and Black browed albatross. A
couple of Humpback whales were spotted but did
chose to be more on the timid side. It is early in
the expedition and we remain confident that we
will find more cetaceans in the days to come.
We kept busy with our bio security check in order
to be in accordance with our IATTO regulations.
Zodiac and kayak briefing were also mandatory to
prepare us all for the operations. Sandra was very
kind by taking some time to share some of her
wonderful photography knowledge in order to
make us benefit from our photo opportunities.
A closure was brought to the iceberg contest with
the first iceberg larger than the Ocean Atlantic
vessel spotted at 13:38.
Many of us were kept happy with the pizza
making session, while many more took great
pleasure in eating those tasty pizzas at teatime.
We had an early diner in order to kick off our first
landings of the trip at both Barrientos and Cecilia
islands. It was a treat for us all to visit with
Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, Weddel and
Elephant seals, were all part of the welcoming
comity and some giant petrels to top it off!
The zodiac tour from ship to land was exciting
with small swells and choppy water but we all
enjoyed this adventurous evening!
What a day all together, we just can’t wait to see
what tomorrow will bring!
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

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:
11
1
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.
© Renato Granieri
© Renato Granieri
2
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.
3
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.
© Werner Kruse
4
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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Drake Passage
Welcome!
© Sandra Petrowitz
We’re ready!
Boot Party
© Sandra Petrowitz
Beagle
Channel
© Sandra Petrowitz
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Whales: Friendly Giants of the Sea
Amanda Dalsgaard – Lecturer (Marine Biology) and Expedition Guide
13
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 ‘ketos,’ meaning monster.
Long ago, when whales were first scientifically
observed and recorded, people believed they were
monsters, due to their size. 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 instead of teeth. 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.
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.
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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Day 4 - The South Shetlands
26 January 2020 – Deception Island
14
On the second day in Antarctica people where very
excited, not only because we had our first landing
the day before but also because of the fog
surrounding us creating a very mysterious
scenario.
The expectation that morning was to visit the
Chilean Base Arturo Prat. We were very
enthusiastic, none of us had visited the station
before. But the weather kept getting worse, so bad
that our second destination, Half Moon, could not
be done either.
After a long conversation with the station leader at
Arturo Prat we made the decision to continue
traveling through the Bransfield Strait towards
Deception Island, the only volcano in the world
where we can navigate with a cruise.
Deception Island is an island in the South Shetland
Islands archipelago, with one of the safest
harbours in Antarctica. This island is the caldera of
an active volcano, which seriously damaged local
scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. The island
previously held a whaling station; it is now a tourist
destination and scientific outpost, with
Argentinean and Spanish research bases. While
various countries have asserted sovereignty, it is
still administered under the Antarctic Treaty
System.
Located within the Bransfield Strait, the island is
roughly circular and horseshoe-shaped, with a
maximum diameter around 15 km (9.3 mi). The
highest peak, Mont Pond on the east side of the
island, has an elevation of 539 m (1,768 ft), while
Mount Kirkwood on the west has an elevation of
452 m. Over half (57%) of the island is covered by
glaciers up to 100 m thick, ice-cored moraines, or
ice covered pyro clasts. The centre of the island
has been flooded by the sea to form a large bay,
now called Port Foster, about 10 km long and 7 km
wide. The bay has a narrow entrance, just 500 m
wide, called Neptune's Bellows. The port is a basin
with a flat floor up to 170 m deep with several
small submarine cones and domes. The port is
rimmed by a shall coastal shelf with sandy-gravelly
beaches. The outer coast of the island is
characterized by 30–70 m high cliffs of rock or ice.
This mysterious and mystical place welcomed us
with a very dense fog, low clouds and 120kms
winds.
After Deception our journey continued, navigating
all night in order to reach the next destination,
Cuverville.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

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
15
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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Day 5 - The White Continent
27 January 2020 – Couverville Island and Neko Harbour
16
The day started fairly windy again, however as we
got to closer to the Island of Cuverville, it settled
down enough for the Zodiacs to enter the water,
and we were finally back outside in the incredible
nature of Antarctica.
The water splashed up around us as we drove
through waives and passed blue icebergs, glaciers
and penguin colonies on our way to Cuverville.
The island was packed with adorable Gentoo
chicks and a great group of Antarctic Terns circled
the area.
After the adventures morning, we had lunch in the
restaurant. During the lunch, two humpback
whales suddenly showed up next to the ship. They
put on a spectacular show, as they jumped out of
the water again and again.
A couple of hours later, we reached Neko Island.
The beautifully located island was full of nesting
Gentoo’s and offered great views of the of the
massive glaciers surrounding it. The trip started
out with calm weather, but after a while, the wind
picked up and started the bring in a lot of ice.
Almost all of the water around the island was
filled, as last zodiac took off.
Right after Neko Island, it was time for the famous
polar plunge. A whole bunch of brave souls took
on the challenge and jumped into the ice cold
water, as floating icebergs passed by. 32 people
ended up jumping into the freezing water before
they received a round of applause from the deck,
a shot of vodka and a lot of glory.
The day ended with a great show of karaoke, as
the sun sat behind the snow-covered mountains
and the Ocean Atlantic continued its journey
further south into the peninsula.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

When and How the Earth Got Cold
David Macdonald, Lecturer (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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 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 11

Ice window
Chinstrap
© Sandra Petrowitz © Sandra Petrowizi
Home, sweet
home
© Sandra Petrowitz
Neko Harbour
© Sandra Petrowitz
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Wildlife of the Antarctic
28 January 2020 – Brown Station/Paradise Harbour and Port
Lockroy
19
We woke surrounded in the dramatic landscapes
of glaciers, craggy mountains and icebergs as Sam
announced that the winds had finally died down
to light and we would be soon beginning our day
at Paradise Bay.
Operations began shortly after breakfast with
half of the guests heading to make a second
continental landing, this time with the
opportunity for snow sliding. While guests
gushed over the penguin chicks at the rookery,
others took selfies overlooking the bay and the
adventurous souls took turns sliding down the
hill- after all, sliding in Antarctica isn’t something
everyone can say they have done!
The guests who were not on shore spent a
beautiful morning cruising around by the glorious
glaciers that surround the bay, sneaking in
between cathedral icebergs scattered around,
watching porposing penguins. blue eyed shags on
the cliff side and spending time in silence
listening to the ice crackle. Here we spotted
lichen growing on the rocks and even traces of
copper in the cliff side.
BBQ lunch was hosted on the back deck as we
made our way towards our afternoon landing at
Port Lockroy. The weather turned to drizzle and
the wind picked up as we made our approach.
Here guests were able to shop until they
dropped, explore the museum to see what life is
like living on the continent and to have a close
encounter with penguins. The Gentoo penguin
chicks are noticeably larger than the others we
have seen, giving us a great perspective of their
growth and development.
Kim shared a lecture on whales for the guests on
board as they waited their turn to go to shore.
Zodiac cruising took place in the bay as guests
made their way to shore, exploring the glaciers of
the area and even spotting an Adelie Penguin,
taking our penguin species tally up to three.
It was a wet afternoon, which allowed us to see
how harsh the weather can be in Antarctica and
how hard it must be to raise young chicks in
conditions such as these. We made our way back
to the ship, grateful for the warmth and a hot cup
of tea.
After operations wrapped up Sam briefed us
about the day ahead. We had a very interesting
evening of recaps learning about salp from Ted,
lichens from Kim, the Antarctic Treaty with
Thomas and Human Behaviours with Alejandro.
Guillaume introduced us to Hookpod, the first of
three charities in which Albatros supports, and
which we can support at the auction on our last
day at sea.
Dinner was served in the dining room and the
evening came to a close with a dance party
hosted by Rose.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Fun Fact:
There are over 20000 species of lichen. Lichen is
actually a combination of a fungus and a
cyanobacteria! #thatsneat
Volume 2, Issue 11

The Final Day
29 January 2020 – Cierva Cove and Portal Point
The day started out pretty nice with calm waters, and
it was great as the past few days we did not have such
smooth rides. The guests had not yet experienced
much sunshine this trip, and as the sun started to peek
out of the clouds this morning, smiles started to
appear on the faces of the guests. We started out the
morning with a beautiful zodiac cruise at Cierva Cove.
There were many different sightings, some saw
crabeater and weddell seals, while others saw orcas
and humpback whales.
We came back to the ship for a sumptuous lunch
onboard. Some had some rest time while others had
time to go through the many pictures that were taken
in the morning.
In the afternoon, we arrived at Portal Point where we
planned to do a landing and a zodiac cruise. We were
initially worried that the weather was not going to be
ideal for any activity. However, as we got nearer to
our destination, the wind and waves were kind to us.
On top of that, just before we got off the ship, we
started to see many humpback whales in different
groups all around the ship.
20
As we shuttled the first half of the guests to shore,
there was a group of whales that were showing their
flukes off. The zodiac cruises that afternoon were
whaley amazing. Every single person got to see at least
a whale, some were performing with their flukes,
while others were having a splashy great time feeding.
Everyone got back to the ship feeling amazed and that
the last excursion of the trip could not have been
better.
Back at the ship, the spirits were up during the recap
and briefing for the day before heading for a delicious
hot buffet dinner. The day ended nicely with Kevin
sharing his personal stories about living in the Canada,
where he has an abundance of experience in the Arctic
and polar bears.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

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, 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.
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23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Lemaire Brown Station Channel
© Sandra Petrowitz
Danco Island
Brown Station
© Sandra Petrowitz
© Sandra Petrowitz
© Sandra Petrowitz
Ciera Cove
© Sandra Petrowitz
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

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.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Northward Bound
30 January 2020 – Drake Passage
As we began our journey through the Drake Passage
back to Ushuaia and civilization, we were all pleased to
be greeted with sunny skies and playful seals putting on
a show for those lucky enough to be watching. Although
the seas had rocked the Ocean Atlantic through the
night, the swell wasn’t too harsh and we had a relatively
pleasant morning on the Southern Ocean.
After a delicious breakfast in the Vinland Restaurant,
guests were able to listen to a lecture in the Viking
Theatre by Kim about cold water diving in Antarctica.
She spoke about life under the Antarctic sea ice and
how the visibility in Antarctic waters can reach upwards
of 300 meters. We then were lucky enough to see some
fin whales, and guests happily snapped a few photos
before the whales continued on their way. We gathered
again for lunch and then continued on back to the
theatre to watch a movie about the beautiful frozen
continent we just left behind.
24
In the evening we met once again the Viking Lounge for
the day’s recap and briefing. Our expedition leader,
Sam, told us about what we should expect of the Drake
Passage for our final voyage day. Our photographer,
Sandra, then showed a slideshow of the photo contest
winners and handed out well deserved prizes. After
handing out polar plunge certificates to the few who
decided to brave the cold Antarctic waters, Sandra put
on a slideshow showcasing the best polar plunge
images.
Following a delicious dinner in the Vinland Restaurant,
we joined Rose for the evening’s entertainment. A
cocktail demonstration was put on in the Viking Lounge
showing guests how to make a margarita. Those who
could most closely recreate this drink, won a drink. The
evening ended with a “name that song” competition,
and guests went to bed looking forward to their final
Drake Passage day.
In the afternoon guests were treated to an ice cream
social and tea time with traditional Nordic treats.
Directly following, we all gathered in the Viking Theatre
to listen to expedition staff experts explain the
interconnectivity of the Antarctic ecosystem. Afterward,
guests were able to stay for a question and answer
session. We learned about how the ice and snow on top
of the Antarctic continent makes it the continent with
the highest elevation, how a lot of marine organisms
here exhibit cold water gigantism, how krill is the most
important organism in the Antarctic ecosystem and how
it supports this very diverse community, and how
snowy sheathbills eat penguin poop. Subsequently,
stretching was offered by Rashidah in the Bistro.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
© Renato Granieri Photography
Volume 2, Issue 11

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.
© Werner Kruse
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

The Beagle Channel
31 January 2020 – Drake Passage
On the the final morning our Drake Passage crossing,
we awoke to blue skies and an abundance of seabirds.
Although the seas had rocked the Ocean Atlantic
through the night, the swell wasn’t too harsh and we
had a relatively pleasant morning on the Southern
Ocean.
Thankfully, we had a later start for the day so we had a
bit of a lie in before a delicious breakfast in the Vinland
Restaurant as well as a disembarkation briefing in the
Viking Theatre.
After the briefing, we were all invited to tour the bridge
first hand and see the Ocean Atlantic’s officers hard at
work.
In the afternoon, the kayakers among us gathered up
for a quick debriefing meeting and then a short lecture
on the history of kayaking from our kayak guide, Slava.
We also had a recap with Questions and Answers where
the questions we had entered got answered.
26
By early evening, it was time to gather in the Viking
Lounge one last time for the end of voyage slideshow
and charity auction, as well as the Captain´s celebratory
cocktail hour. We waved a hearty goodbye to the
journey of a lifetime, taking a moment to reflect on our
voyage, thanks to Sandra´s immaculately composed
slideshow of our trip to the White Continent.
We also had a chance to thank and appreciate the many
people who made this journey possible, from the
officers and crew to the Expedition Staff. Finally, it was
time to head to the Vinland Restaurant for our last
dinner aboard the Ocean Atlantic, topped off with Chef
Indra’s spectacular “Death by Chocolate” dessert buffet.
As we pulled into the comfort of the Beagle Channel,
our journey drew closer towards its close. However, as
we packed our bags and prepared to disembark the
Ocean Atlantic, amid the festivities of the evening, we
had the chance to appreciate the beauty of the journey
of a lifetime and all the memories we’ll take with us as
we make our way home.
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
© Renato Granieri Photography
Volume 2, Issue 11

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.
27
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
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

Cierva Cove
Paradise Bay
© Sandra Petrowitz
Cierva Cove
© Sandra Petrowitz
© Sandra Petrowitz
© Sandra Petrowitz
Gerlache Strait
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020 Volume 2, Issue 11

Home Again
1 February 2020 - Ushuaia
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 bring us.
And so – farewell, adieu, and goodbye. Together we
have visited and 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.
29
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.
We hope the expedition team has helped 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!
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

By the Numbers…
30
Voyage Statistics:
Southernmost Point:
Total Distance Travelled:
65 o 02.333’ S, 62 o 51.559’W
1575 nautical miles
Excursion Locations:
Aitcho Barrientos: 62 o 24’ S 59 o 47’ W
Deception Island: 62 o 55’ S 60 o 37’ W
Cuverville Island: 64 o 41’ S 62 o 38’ W
Neko Harbour: 64 o 50’ S 62 o 33’ W
Brown Station:
Port Lockroy
Portal Point
Cierva Cove
Ushuaia:
64 o 53’ S 62 o 52’ W
64 o 50’ S 63 o 30’ W
64 o 30’ S 61 o 46’ W
64 o 90’ S 60 o 53’ W
54 o 45’ S 68 o 23’ W
During our time on the M/V Ocean Atlantic, we consumed:
Beef
Lamb
Pork
Poultry
Cold Cuts
Fish & Seafood
Eggs
Milk
Cheese
Ice Cream
Vegetables
Fruit
Wine
Beer
Toilet Paper
495 kg
125 kg
600 kg
720 kg
180 kg
395 kg
7200 kg
620 ltr
80 kg
160 ltr
2900 kg
3000 kg
127 btls
432 cans
893 rolls
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11

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!
Sam Gagnon
Expedition Leader
Ted Creek
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!
Wan Meng Cheih
Assistant Expedition Leader
23 JAN – 1 FEB 2020
Volume 2, Issue 11