Comments on: Cargo Ship M/V American Tern at the Ice Pier

By: ahmed elmasry

ahmed elmasry — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 18:04:05 +0000

im 2nd officer if you need contact me

By: Deepanshu Aggarwal

Deepanshu Aggarwal — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:03:46 +0000

i am a radio officer cum junior officer if u have any vac. for me then pls feel free to contact me. i am waiting for ur feply…..

By: Greg Broyles

Greg Broyles — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:59:18 +0000

I was the Chief Steward on the Tern during this year’s Operation Deep Freeze. I just wanted to thank all the people at McMurdo who were so hospitable and welcoming. This was my second run to the ice. Thanks for making us feel a part of the family there.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:21:32 +0000

@ Aunt Mary: The cargo ship already left. Sorry. Thanks for the wishes.

By: Aunt Mary

Aunt Mary — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:49:25 +0000

Happy Birthday Scottie!!!!

P.S. Can you bring me home a ambulance as a souvenir? That would be MAJOR cool!!!!!!

By: Smitty

Smitty — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:27:22 +0000

Old ambulances usually go to less fortunate EMS providers, who can’t afford new trucks. Otherwise, they get sold to various types contractors. With all of the compartments, they really do make great work trucks.

By: Sue K

Sue K — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:52:08 +0000

My cousin bought an old ambulance and converted it into a flatbed to transport his 4-wheeler, I think. They can also be converted into campers and trade vehicles. To say your vehicle came from Antarctica would be pretty cool!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:46:02 +0000

Yes, things are fairly busy here. Field camps have been closing for winter, bringing people and equipment back to town. South Pole station closes for winter around Feb. 15, so there are lots of flights to and from pole. There are several refrigerated cargo containers filled with ice cores near the firehouse. McMurdo Station pretty much closes for winter around Feb. 20, although the last flight out is around March 5. Winter officially starts here in the southern hemisphere on June 21 (the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere), but weather conditions here will be winter-like far earlier than that. It’s already getting colder and autumn doesn’t begin until March 21.

The sea ice continues to break up with the help of the icebreaker. Some days there is a fair amount of loose ice around Hut Point and Winter Quarters Bay, other days less or none at all. It largely depends on the wind, but overall the amount of open water continues to increase. The open water of the Ross Sea to our north is also getting closer. You can see open water and icebergs clearly, especially from Ob Hill.

With the open water, wildlife is a bit more prevalent. I see whales and seals pretty much every day I go for a hike. Penguins a little less often, but they are around.

As for the ambulances, I don’t know where the old ones go. Where do old ambulances go to die in the States? These will probably go there. I’ll see about getting more photos of the new ones.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:37:51 +0000

Not to sound like a whacker… but I’m hoping to see more pictures of the new ambulances.

By: Mom

Mom — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:37:14 +0000

So this is what Antartica looks like in the summer??? With all that’s going on there, thankfully there are some signs of the earth to maneuver all that cargo on. No wonder they have maneuvers 24 hours a day. When does winter officially start; and end? AND YOU’LL BE HOME!!!

It won’t be long now!!!