Last Call and the Beginning of Winter!

The RSS Ernest Shackleton has been in for "last call" before the winter.  She is on her way back north after collecting BAS personnel who are not wintering from Rothera, Halley and Signy.  She bought with her some supplies but her main duty was to collect all the outgoing cargo which includes scientific samples, waste and a 40 ton Volvo Excavator.  The volvo was the largest thing the Shack' has ever lifted with her 50 ton crane, and it was a slightly tense moment as she took the strain and heeled perhaps 15 degrees to starboard as she took the weight.
As an aside, I took a small group of personnel out on the jet launch to give them a tour of the local area while disposing of food waste in the bay.  I had an unusual addition to my passenger list though, as a large Winnie the Pooh came aboard.  It turns out this particular bear is quite a celebrity having climbed Everest and having been to the South Pole.  I put a life jacket on him (strict BAS policy, that ALL passengers and crew wear one!) and took him to the Nordenskjold Glacier for a photo opp.  See if you can see him sat on the wharf supervising the lifting of the Digger in the photos below.
As she is carrying a number of BAS people from different stations it is tradition here that there is a party held for the ship.  We spent an afternoon converting our Boatshed into a party venue (see photos) and the compliment of ships crew and passengers came ashore and helped us drink a dinghy full of alcohol which was kept cool with Glacier Ice (see previous post) We had a great weekend that even included the wedding (although slightly unofficial!) of two of Shack's crew, a deckhand and a cook.  The bride and groom were thrilled to be able to tie the knot (no pun intended) at the church at Grytviken.  The captain exercised his ability to wed them.
And so winter begins.....

The very impressive bridge of the Shack.

HMS Dotty showing her 3.3hp engine and her unusual cargo :-)

The Boatshed Ball!  the parachute is an old army one from the days when supplies to KEP were airdropped from Hercules aircraft.