Crossing the line.

 

On every ship that crosses the line (the equator), there is an initiation for a sailor's first time crossing the line. It was though that this tradition may have originated to boost  morale, or have been created as a test that sailors capable of handling long rough times at sea.

 

 

 

 

What actually happened was that we had a massive water fight and had to run and hide from the ships crew, when we were captured and our charges read out.

 

We all prepared for the battle.

 

 

My charge was, ''The accused is charged with having an outrageously noisy laugh- akin to a herd of braying animals or a donkey in distress! Laughter is supposed to be seen as music to the ears. The prosecution therefore seeks a court injunction of the accused to desist from the following forms of laughing; guffawing; snorting; sniggering; chortling; cackling and tittering, so that the Ship's company of his majesty's fine vessel, the RRS Ernest Shackleton, may go about their business in peace.''

King Neptune and his court

 

We then kissed the kipper!

Then we got slops poured over our heads ... it was so smelly. We got hosed down by the fire hose straight away. It over 4 showers to get the smell out of our hair!

 

 

 

 

 We were all given a certificate so that if we ever cross the line on a ship again, you show the Captain the certificate so you avoid getting slops over your head again!

 

 

 We also did a man over board exercise and whilst we were at the equator...

 

  28 degrees seawater !!!

 5 km deep!

 

 

 This week we have spent most evenings in the pool!

 

 

 

We had a BBQ to finish off the celebrations!

 

It's been clear blue skies but now we are heading North it is starting to go downhill already!

 

However, the most important thing at the moment is that my aquarium is not doing very well and I'm doing everything I can to try and save all of the animals that I with a lot of help from people at Rothera, Cambridge and the ship have spent 7 months on! Now that we are heading North the temperatures should start to stabilise!

Sailing North.

So my time in Monte Video was great, except I did forget to mention that I got a sickness bug, mild food poisoning and I spent a lot of money! So when we left Monte it was great to get back to the sea...except for the first 2 days there was a storm which made me seasick, now I am fully used to the RRS Shackelton's corkscrewing motion!

 The first day back to sea we left the RRS James Clark Ross (JCR) in Monte Video, the JCR was moored alongside us as BAS were interviewing for the new ship whilst most of the crews were changing over in Monte, the JCR is the second ship that BAS use for polar research.

 The first thing we did when we left port was to do a lifeboat drill, I was allowed to assist with this. This was very valuable training, as to see how a lifeboat operates was not only interesting but can save lives...one recommendation the sea survival training does not tell you that I would recommend is to take some ear plugs!!

 Our driver Ben!

You always have to be ready to muster with a hard hat, overalls and safety boots. We have had a few drills whilst heading North, our most recent drill was a fire and casualty scenario fully acted out until the smoke was dealt with and the casualty on life support. As a first aider trained by BASMU, I muster in the surgery and then when we know where the emergency is we are sent there to respond carrying the stretcher, first aid kit, DEFIB and oxygen. Living and working on a ship is entirely dependant on the crew so it's great to be involved in these scenarios and to be helpful and trained in the case of an emergency.

 
Since leaving Rothera on the ship I have been completing a debris study everyday for 1 hour from the bridge. I use binoculars to look for any macro debris that is floating, I also note if it is associated with marine life. During this hour it ensures that I get fresh air (very easy to get stuck working in the aquarium or writing up work on the computer), it also means that I get to turn my skin from Antarctic white to hopefully Brazilian brown as we are currently sailing off the coast of Brazil. Best bit is I get to check out this beautiful view.

The aquarium has been very difficult lately. It has been stable for the rest of the trip until now. I'm currently struggling with high temperatures in the hold where the aquarium reefer is so I've been putting ice cubes of frozen seawater into all the tanks to keep the temperature <2 degrees. Also, low nutrients from the long stint in Monte, so I'm attempting to do water changes every 2 days which is hard when you've got to cool the water from 28 to -1.5 degrees!

This is the ships system that I use to complete water changes

 The anemones are looking good though!

 Water tight doors...love hate situation. Keep you and the ship safe but every time I go into the aquarium hold I need to open and close this door..it takes a while!!



Lots of ice cubes



I spend a lot of time in this container...

Ship life is good ... tonight we had our first BBQ on the poop deck, tomorrow after work we are going to sunbathe in the pool!!!!

Break in Uruguay!

I have been in Uruguay Port Monte Video for 2 and a half weeks on the Shack. We have been here reconnecting with the Uruguayan government so that w

e can start to use their port more often, so we've had lots of talks with the government and I have been talking and giving talks to lots of various scientists which has been very interesting!

I have used the 2 weeks to sort out the aquarium, ensuring everything is ready for crossing the tropics. I've been manically freezing cubes of seawater which I will use to cool down the water in each tank. In-between doing water changes and cleaning the aquarium I have taken a bit of time to reintegrate and regenerate. 

Ive cycled and run up and down this alot !

Kate's photo of the last 4 winteres...first thing we went was to the meat market !







Me, Muff and Rob spent alot of time exploring, we went to Punta del Este on a bus!! Thanks for helping me to reintegrate guys!

WE found the famous hand -Rob's!

It was great to visit Uruguay properly and have a bit of a relax with some freedom!

Oh and we went swimming, the waves were pretty fun-Rob's

Rob's photos thanks dude

And had a few well deserved drinks - Rob's!

I met a lovely family that I cheekily asked if we could go sailing with...I offered them a bottle of wine and they said yes hehe! Juan Pablo de Leon and Murielle Gras took me, William Whatley the captain of the Shackleton and cadet Jamie for a days sailing to a private Navy island 3 hours outside Uruguay, still in the estuary (most people are not allowed here - we were so lucky to get this opportunity).

 It turned out to be an incredible day out! 

It all started with Champagne at 10 am!

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 An amazing barbecue...such good meat in Uruguay!!

Isla de Flors

Some amazing history with this these 3 connecting islands. It was an island for the immigrants...not that many years ago. The first island is the old prison, the second island is where people were banished to if they got ill and the third island was where everyone was buried when they died.

On the Rio De Plata...a river that gets it's name as it glistens with silver specs..

The water is warmer than Rothera but definitely not as clean!

 

A week later they all came and visited the aquarium and the RRS Shackelton!!

Thank you all for an incredible insight to Uruguay... Juan, Murielle, Sabine, Diego, Filomena, Alejandro, Pino, Marianella and Emiliano and the rest of your family and friends!!

I caught another long bus ride to Colonia del Sacramento opposite Buenos Aries! 

This trusty stead got me around...only got lost a few times..

A few of us also visited a vine yard. I love wine. 

 I love the name of the company, very fitting!

 Now only a 3 weeks sail up the Atlantic, crossing the line ceremony and a quick dip on the equator!!!

 Almost home yippeeeee.