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PORTSMOUTH TO ANTARCTICA ‘IN LESS THAN 5 MONTHS’
Endurance returned home from the 05/06 Antarctic Deployment on 5 May 2006 and after five months of hectic regeneration work, leave and OST, she is once again on task in Antarctica. This has been a tremendous achievement and full credit must go to NBC Portsmouth, FSL, SFM(P), MPHIPT and, of course, the Ship’s Company for enabling the ship to sail on time for her inaugural 9 month deployment.
HMS Endurance in South Georgia
Having enjoyed the delights of Madeira, Buenos Aires and Mare Harbour en route to the Southern Ocean, the ship will spend the next 5 months in Antarctica supporting numerous science and environmental projects. The arrival of the British Antarctic Survey Team, British Schools Exploring Society, UKHO and an artist puts a squeeze on the accommodation but makes for an exciting buzz in anticipation of the ice-bergs, wildlife and remarkable scenery. The days are long (not least as the sun never sets) which means the tasking is full and varied: setting up boat camps to survey the inshore regions; calling on the international scientific stations, in particular providing much needed fresh provisions to the Chinese Great Wall of China Station (much to the Pusser’s annoyance); transfer of equipment and personnel onto the ice for scientific research, geodetics and reconnaissance of potential tourism sites; and utilising our state-of-the-art Multi Beam Echo Sounder (MBES) which generates accurate, colour coded, three dimensional pictures of the seabed that are converted into modern charts for safer navigation. Key to of all this activity are the two Lynx helicopters of 212 Flight, the workhorses providing air lift capability that enables people and equipment to access areas which would otherwise be impossible to reach.
Remembrance Day Service
On the 12 November 2006, HMS ENDURANCE remembered those who gave so much for their country and it is believed that at south of 62 degrees south, this is the Royal Navy’s most southerly Remembrance Day Service.
In keeping with Endurance’s charity supporting tradition, the ship’s football team managed to find the only goal posts in Antarctica.
HMS Endurance’s football team
Hence they used the backdrop and stunning Antarctic scenery to attempt Sky’s Soccer AM Crossbar Challenge. Not for the faint hearted: ice, snow, a steep decline and very small goal posts, the team did well – well done to LCpl ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson for hitting the bar, an action that was recently televised.
Stimpy with Pudsy Bear
In addition, Pudsy Bear and the Ship’s Company have been busy building snowmen and waxing CH ‘Damage’ Crichton to raise lots of money for Children In Need.
During the deployment, HMS Endurance will be involved in a range of other events including providing regular reports on conditions in the South Atlantic to the Velux 5 Ocean Race which started in October, and supporting her own intrepid group of sea kayakers who plan to paddle the 120 nautical miles around James Ross Island to raise money for the Ship’s charities. Endurance will also embark the BBC Planet Earth Team who, carrying on from the ‘Ice Worlds’ programme, will utilise a Gyron high definition camera fitted to one of the Lynx helicopters. It is also hoped that other media teams will join in the New Year to broadcast live from Antarctica..... lots more to come I hope, says Captain Nick Lambert.
After the first two Work Periods in the ice, HMS Endurance will spend Xmas in Rio de Janeiro where family members will join their loved ones for the festive period. To the families and friends who remain in the UK - we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy 2007. As always, you are constantly in our thoughts, especially at Christmas.
HMS Endurance in South Georgia
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