Pacific Spirit Marine Institute
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
We like it when things go well especially when it comes to tankers and oceans. MSC, Military Sealift Command, is an ice-strengthened tanker that took part in Operation Deep Freeze January 28 through February 3rd.
Operation Deep Freeze is the annual replenishment of supplies to Antarctic Research Station McMurdo. The McMurdo Station was established in 1955 and is built on bare volcanic rock on the Hut Point Peninsula on Ross Island.
This month, MSC, American Tern delivered 12 million pounds of equipment and supplies to McMurdo’s ice pier. There are approximately 1,500 researchers and support personnel who work at the station. The American Tern picked up nearly 5 million pounds of waste generated at the station by its inhabitants as well as science items like ice core samples.
The Swedish icebreaker Oden arrived in advance of the Gianella and the American Tern breaking a channel through about 18 miles of ice that was blocking ships access to McMurdo. American Tern said thank you by refueling Oden its last day in port.
Photograph by: Peter Rejcek
National Science Foundation
Date Taken: January 8, 2008
A January snow storm blankets McMurdo Station. The building at left is the Movement Control Center where passengers and cargo transit en route to other destinations.
Photograph by: Chris Demarest
National Science Foundation
Date Taken: February 11, 2008
The Swedish icebreaker ODEN, left, receives fuel from the cargo ship AMERICAN TERN at the McMurdo Station ice pier. The TERN off-loaded cargo and up-loaded waste and recycled materials for its trip back to the United States.
Labels: American Tern, Antarctic Research, Icebreaker Oden, McMurdo, oil tanker
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
USNS Lawrence H. Gianella Delivers 6 Million Gallons of Fuel; Doesn’t Spill A Drop.
