16 Dec 2019

Heritage Expeditions Sets Sail on East Antarctic Adventure

Trusty polar expedition vessel Akademik Shokalskiy pulled anchor in Bluff this evening, setting sail for Mawson's Huts, Commonwealth Bay, on the first of Heritage Expeditions four Antarctic voyages this season - ‘In the Wake of Mawson'.

Having successfully completed her first Subantarcitc expedition ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean', delighted guests and new friends were farewelled after breakfast, then it was time for our expedition team and crew to get Akademik Shokalskiy shipshape for her East Antarctic adventure.

After welcoming on, and settling in, our Antarctic-bound explorers we sailed into blue skies and sunshine on a true expedition - attempting to land at Sir Douglas Mawson's Hut on Christmas Day.

Historically, Commonwealth Bay has been one of the very few ice-free and readily accessible areas along the East Antarctic coastline, however this changed when 78 kilometres of the Mertz Glacier tongue broke off in 2010 after it was struck by a 97 kilometre-long iceberg, blocking the annual movement of sea ice and effectively isolating the region.

Now, with access to the Bay freeing up during the summer, we are hoping to be among the first to once again return and explore this previously off limits majestic and historic location.

Image © Heritage Expeditions