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September 2007 |
23rd - 30th September
Well, repairs continue to Stella the 5.5m Humber Destroyer and she is improving with them. Matt B the electronics engineer came to make some repairs and improvements to the fuse box and electrics. One major upgrade is the depth sounder equipment. The depth sounder is essential in the summer when algae blooms turn the water very murky and the dive coxswain needs to drop the divers in a good depth. The transducer (the bit that sticks in the water and does the pinging) is generally mounted on a plastic fitting. This doesn't last in the Antarctic due to ice damage. So there have been ongoing attempts to improve and the last design (a swinging metal fitting) didn't last because damage to the transducer unit didn't allow sufficient fitting. So I have learnt the new skill of GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) or fibreglass moulding. I aim to fit the transducer in solid fitting. We shall see what I come up with! Enough of boring work chat, band practice continues, the Mechs are starting to dig out base from under an average of 3 metres of snow and the boats continue to go out with some folk enjoying trips to the local islands to see do work and also enjoy amazing views of Weddell Seal pups; some born only hours before arrival. Strict distances are observed so as not to disturb but the curious pups will sometimes come close to the photographer.
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16th - 22nd September This week has been dominated by base requirement: Night Shift. During the night hours, we require someone to keep an eye on base, listen out for radio transmissions or emergency contact and do some cleaning. The hours are from 11pm to 7am and require regular rounds about the main base area as well as a full check of all working areas. During the intermediary hours, you can relax in Bransfield, watch films, catch up with diaries etc. There are also cleaning duties that I find are best addressed during the 'dog watch' period (3am to 6am). During the day, you sleep, though with open water I was required to organise some boating but this was much like staying up til late. Unfortunately there are no photos for this period. Nothing exciting happened, and the rounds were fine. Which is how they should be. |
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8th - 15th September The work continues this week on the engines with a couple of them requiring simple repairs that need stripping of parts. This is part of the job I love where I get to develop my skills under the guidance of mechanics should I need them and the supply of a well-developed workshop. Before committing to removing the Powerhead (the main body of the engine) I have triple checked my procedure and walked through the component parts as well as discussed with Andy the Mech. The repair is a faulty gasket that causes exhaust to come out of the engine in the wrong place. I successfully completed the repair to one of the engines and learnt much about the design of the engine and how it works which is very fulfilling. Out of the work place, there has been a turn of events that is really quite exciting. On Friday night, Ali dragged me into the Green Room (a room in Fuchs rammed with instruments) for a band session. I sat in the corner enjoying the amazing music and toward the end was asked if I had anything I'd like to sing. Having secretly haboured a desire to warble to Wilson Pickett's 'Mustang Sally', I was soon standing in front of a mike having hastily found the lyrics of the internet. Let's just say strangled cats have sounded sweeter! Keep your eye out for updates on my musical talents.
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1st - 7th September
There is little to report for this week as most of it has been work on engines in the boatshed. There are 16 engines in total and the service history has blanks so as part of my winter workload I have been assessing each engine, making repairs and generally ensuring I know the current status of each of them. This would then allow me to pull one off the shelf if required. The weather has been accessory to my demands as with high winds and blowing snow it restricts activities to indoors. Some days have been good and with ice in South Cove, there has been some diving in Hangar Cove. Additional to one dive this week was Tris the Comms Manager and his homemade Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Some winterers bring winter projects and Tris brought a couple of standard marine bilge pumps, an underwater camera, bits and pieces and a manual of DIY ROV building. A gifted electronics guru, Tris has worked on Commercial ROV projects inspecting oil rigs and having constructed his 'Heath Robinson' creation to some comedy remarks by his colleagues he took it for a dive through the ice and brought back amazing footage. Another pastime is the festivals that we have here. Mid winter we had a homebrew festival and a home photo competition so for the end of winter we have a film festival. Rob the Met man is a talented musician who has been creating music and in passing his office one day I heard a recent track involving domestic implements and soon I had talked him into making a video for the film festival so we try to busy ourselves with filming him and capturing views of base.
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