Polarstern / CAML expedition: stuck in the ice
Icebergs in the quiet Antarctic night
© G. Chapelle / IPF / Alfred Wegener Institut
First sight when we get up: an ice wall slowly passing by behind the port-hole. Is this already the ice shelf (floating ice platform, prolonging polar glaciers in the ocean) ? No, it's only one of the biggest tabular icebergs observed until now. But the ice shelf is further behind, on the horizon. This means that we are now sailing west along the coast to reach Atka Bay, where the Polarstern will unload fuel and containers for the Neumayer station, which lies some 10 km inland, or rather "inice". Only a few hours of navigation left.
No again ! The closer we get from the coast, the thicker the ice. Less than 2 nautical miles (1 nautical mile = 1.852km) away from our destination, after a 4400 km traverse from South Africa, Polarstern has to stop, stuck in the ice. Here is a clear reminder of the power of mother nature: even with 15,000 horse power under the hood, our ice-breaker is powerless against her.
Nothing left to do, apart from enjoying a quiet night. There is no wind and our vessel is completely stuck in sea ice. Our only hope is a storm (coming from the South if possible) which could quickly modify ice conditions !
