Sad news

POSITION:   59 44 S 123 46 E

DISTANCE COVERED LAST 24 HOURS (NAUTICAL MILES): 298.7 nm

AIR TEMPERATURE:  3 deg C

SEA TEMPERATURE:   0.03  deg C

CURRENT SPEED:  12 knots

LOCAL (SHIP) TIME: 1200

AUSTRALIAN EASTERN STANDARD SUMMER TIME: 1500

Although they haven't redirected their course back to their original, to the Australia Antarctic bases, the Aurora Australis is no longer needed for a rescue but for support now that the 4 bodies from the helicopter crash have been recovered.  They will stay in the vicinity of the L'Astrolabe should she need any assistance whilst transitting the ice.  The mood at sea is one of sadness and a one minute silence has been observed in respect for the deceased, their crew and loved ones. There is a growing relationship between the Australian Antarctic Division and the French Antarctic Expeditioners and the ship from which the helicopter came was the very same that left Macquarie wharf only minutes prior to the Aurora Australis on 21 October. I waved to the French as they were leaving as they didn't have their own friends and family there to wave them off. It seemed the right thing to do.

An emergency response exercise was held onboard the Aurora Australis yesterday and everyone got to try out their Antarctic gear as they were outside in 1 deg c - for about 45 mins and if you were not on the ERT, you were standing observing for the duration of the exercise.  Hobart and Mt Wellington were cold enough for me! 

The first ice has been observed on the ship's radar but no sighting as yet.  It is rumoured to be only hours away though so a winner of the sweepstake will be revealed soon.

Media Release

29 OCTOBER 2010


AMSA COORDINATING SEARCH FOR HELICOPTER IN ANTARCTICA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is currently coordinating a
search for a helicopter approximately 100 kilometres from the Dumont
D'Urville base in Antarctica.


AMSA's Rescue Coordination (RCC) was notified at 9.05pm 28 October
2010 of a 406 MHz distress beacon activation from an AS350 Squirrel
helicopter with four male French nationals on board.


The helicopter operates in Antarctica from the French research vessel
L'Astrolabe.  The helicopter was reported to have departed the ship 20
minutes after another helicopter enroute to Dumont D'Urville base but failed
to arrive. L'Astrolabe is currently positioned about 370 kilometres North
East of Dumont D'Urville and is icebound.


The helicopter was last observed on the helicopters tracking system at an
altitude of  29 feet at 20 knots. There has been no radio communication with
the helicopter.


The distress beacon remains active and RCC Australia has tasked a United
State Air Force C17 jet from Christchurch New Zealand, a Royal Australian
Air Force AP3 Orion aircraft from Darwin with emergency drop capability to
the distress location. The Australian Antarctic Division ship Aurora
Australis with two helicopters on board has also been diverted.


RCC Australia is also making contingency plans to evacuate any potential
casualties by aircraft from the ice runway at Dumont D'Urville to McMurdo
Base and then to mainland Australia or New Zealand if required.


It is anticipated that the United States Air Force jet will reach the location
of the helicopter at about 10.00am this morning where it will attempt to
establish radio communication.