01/02/2005 - After the
successful delivery of supplies and equipment
to Australia's Antarctic stations Casey and
Davis the re-supply ship Vasiliy Golovnin
is unable to reach Mawson.
The Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Senator Ian Campbell said that difficult ice
conditions around Mawson station had prevented
the ship reaching its destination.
"The sea ice around Mawson is significantly
thicker than is usual for this time of year
and the closest the ship can get is 30 kilometres
away," Senator Campbell said.
"This is not close enough to allow the
Australian Antarctic Division to carry out
its re-supply of the station.
"There have been severe storms and winds
to 60 knots in the area. The ship waited several
days in the hope that the strong winds would
‘blow out' the sea ice.
"As there was no indication that the
sea ice conditions around Mawson would change
enough any time soon to allow the ship into
the station's Horseshoe Harbour, the decision
has been made to return Vasiliy Golovnin to
Hobart."
Senator Campbell said that supplies for Mawson
would now be delivered by the research and
re-supply vessel Aurora Australis next month.
"Most years our re-supply of Australia's
stations goes without a hitch and that has
been the case at Casey and Davis. However,
when we are dealing with elements beyond our
control we need to be flexible enough to reschedule
operations."
Vasiliy Golovnin is scheduled to return to
Hobart on Monday 7 February, a week earlier
than originally planned.
