Post 3
We started off our first day on the job scrubbing the plates for the freshwater generators on the Peary. Meeting the officers and crew, we quickly settled into the work routine.
Some of the things we have had the opportunity to do so far: open up the main engine, overhaul a purifier, replace breakers, make coffee, test the electrical system, clean the sewage system, maintenance the generators, clean strainers, clean condensers, bunker, do emergency manual testing of steering gear and main engine operation, trace systems, stand ice watch, and many more things!
The officers on the Peary are super helpful and knowledgeable people who never cease to tell good stories or jokes.
When we started getting into iceberg areas, we got a chance to see what the massive blocks of floating ice look like (they are pretty stellar). After traveling past 60 degrees, we started engineering shift night watches. Both of us have the 4-12 watch with the 3rd engineer, and we have gotten to learn a lot about electricity and sewage.
Upon reaching the ice shelf off the coast of Antarctica, our vessel met up with the ice breaker Polar Star (operated by the United States Coast Guard). This icebreaker made us a nice parking spot in the ice for a few nights while we were waiting for discharge of cargo from the heavy lift ship the Ocean Giant to finish. In our parking spot, we saw some amazing wildlife. Whales would pass under the crystal-clear water. Penguins would jump in and out of the water. Orcas traveling in groups seemingly by the tens would show their fins. A lot of seals took naps on the ice a ways in front of the vessel. We had the stellar opportunity to go on an ice walk to see the seals closer and also get a tour of the Polar Star. The Coast Guard were super helpful and nice, showing us all aircraft-derivative engines, their generators, steering gear room, freshwater generation system, bridge, bow, etc.
Going through the ice channel on the final few miles before getting to McMurdo, we got a chance to pass right by the icebreaker again as well as the Ocean Giant. With a lot of wind threatening to pause our docking, the Peary captain and mates did a fantastic job of guiding us right alongside the ice dock.
Today we have explored the NSF building, Crary lab center, the communications building, the NASA facilities, an orb with a satellite dish, the mess hall, the store (I have a new sweatshirt and Nick has a lot of new hats), and we will be exploring more tonight as well. We look forward to hikes and tours and such in the upcoming days!
Some of the things we have had the opportunity to do so far: open up the main engine, overhaul a purifier, replace breakers, make coffee, test the electrical system, clean the sewage system, maintenance the generators, clean strainers, clean condensers, bunker, do emergency manual testing of steering gear and main engine operation, trace systems, stand ice watch, and many more things!
The officers on the Peary are super helpful and knowledgeable people who never cease to tell good stories or jokes.
When we started getting into iceberg areas, we got a chance to see what the massive blocks of floating ice look like (they are pretty stellar). After traveling past 60 degrees, we started engineering shift night watches. Both of us have the 4-12 watch with the 3rd engineer, and we have gotten to learn a lot about electricity and sewage.
Upon reaching the ice shelf off the coast of Antarctica, our vessel met up with the ice breaker Polar Star (operated by the United States Coast Guard). This icebreaker made us a nice parking spot in the ice for a few nights while we were waiting for discharge of cargo from the heavy lift ship the Ocean Giant to finish. In our parking spot, we saw some amazing wildlife. Whales would pass under the crystal-clear water. Penguins would jump in and out of the water. Orcas traveling in groups seemingly by the tens would show their fins. A lot of seals took naps on the ice a ways in front of the vessel. We had the stellar opportunity to go on an ice walk to see the seals closer and also get a tour of the Polar Star. The Coast Guard were super helpful and nice, showing us all aircraft-derivative engines, their generators, steering gear room, freshwater generation system, bridge, bow, etc.
Going through the ice channel on the final few miles before getting to McMurdo, we got a chance to pass right by the icebreaker again as well as the Ocean Giant. With a lot of wind threatening to pause our docking, the Peary captain and mates did a fantastic job of guiding us right alongside the ice dock.
Today we have explored the NSF building, Crary lab center, the communications building, the NASA facilities, an orb with a satellite dish, the mess hall, the store (I have a new sweatshirt and Nick has a lot of new hats), and we will be exploring more tonight as well. We look forward to hikes and tours and such in the upcoming days!
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