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Victoria University Antarctic Research Expedition Science and Logistics Reports 1998-99: VUWAE 43

TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION

7.1. Christchurch-McMurdo Air Operations. The early part of the 1998/1999 season was disrupted by bad weather and CRP suffered delays in personnel and freight arrivals. Although frustrating and inconvenient at the time these early delays did not adversely affect the outcome of the drilling and science operation. At the end of the drill season there was concern expressed by Project management that unnecessary pressure was applied from Scott Base to finish early and have personnel 'off the Ice' before the ice runway closed. The threat of 'not getting home till after Christmas' was exaggerated and added to the already stressful task of making CRP2 a success. All Project personnel returned to NZ on or about the dates originally planned.

7.2. Cargo. Refer to CRP2 Cargo, Para 4 above, for cargo details. Overall the movement and delivery of cargo went well, especially so given the high amount air freighted (some 46,000 lbs ex Christchurch) and the often short notice to purchase and deliver. There is room for improvement in the way urgent cargo is tracked from NZ to Cape Roberts and better ways of doing this will be instituted for CRP3. CRPSSM was critical of the delay and damage done to science cargo that was returned to NZ after the drilling phase eneded. It seems the problem here is that when CRPLO departs Scott Base there is something of a vacuum created and 'loss of ownership' and CRP equipment can be overlooked. Hopefully CRP3 will plan for this.

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7.3. Both German science groups (Niessen and Wonik) on the Project brought radioactive sources as part of their science cargo. Both scientists reported that this administratively sensitive cargo was moved smoothly through 'the system'. Niessen elected to leave his low grade source in storage at Cape Roberts until CRP3, thereby saving a good deal of paperwork.

7.4. Helicopter Operations. In CRP2 a total of 228.7 hours were flown of the 300 hours allocated. Of that, 217 hrs were flown in the drill operations phase, and the remainder in the January-February maintenance and winterisation phase. Refer to Appendix 1 for a breakdown of helicopter hours by week. The Project was well served by both the RNZAF and PHI. After some exuberant flying by RNZAF pilots on CRP1, the more measured approach by this season's RNZAF crews was appreciated by those who rode helicopters daily to work. CRPM was particularly appreciative of the effort by the RNZAF crews to back-load trash to Scott Base.

7.5. CRP Vehicle Fleet. The CRP2 vehicle fleet consisted of two Caterpillar bulldozers, -D5 and D6 models, a Kassbohrer PB 170 equipped with a Hiab crane, four Bombardier skidoos, a 4 × 4 Honda motorbike and two Haaglunds all-terrain vehicles. With the exception of the Haaglunds and the Honda motorbike all the other vehicles were wintered-over at Cape Roberts. The Honda motorbike arrived at Cape Roberts in late September on the sledge train to replace the unreliable ASV (all seasons vehicle) Track-Truck which was returned to Scott Base at the same time. Vehicle serviceability was generally good throughout the drill season. During the maintenance phase all vehicles were serviced. The skidoos are 'showing their age' and will require increased servicing to see out CRP3 and the clean-up year. A major job was undertaken at Cape Roberts in January when the right-side pivot shaft on the D6 was replaced. This involved the removal of the tracks, the blade and the track roller frame to access the worn shaft. It would not have been possible without the heavy lift capability of the Hiab crane on the Kassbohrer.