Approaching the Tasmanian Bridge
On-Board the M/V Arctic Sunrise
Day One - November 18, 1999
"Finally on our way"
Entries by Andrew
Davies
|
[Action
Updates] [On-board
Stories] [Media
Centre] [Take Action]
[Ship and Crew ] [ Campaign Background] [Greenpeace Home] |
| Approaching the Tasmanian Bridge |
On-Board the M/V Arctic SunriseDay One - November 18, 1999
"Finally on our way" |
|
|
When you are setting off to one of the most remote corners of the Earth to confront illegal whaling you had better be plenty ready for anything. For the past few weeks the crew of the Arctic Sunrise has been working at a fevered pitch to get the ship ready for what is expected to be a long and grueling trip to the Southern Ocean. Huge quantities of supplies have been brought on board with the help of the ship’s crane. Including enough food to feed a hungry crew of thirty for the months that we will be at sea. We have 3000 eggs, 300 heads of lettuce, 200 frozen veggie burgers, 30 kilos of bacon, 350 kilos of potatoes, 800 liters of milk and 10 frozen pizzas (for emergincies says the cook) on board. Plus cold weather gear, spare parts, extra batteries and some movies on video tape because were we are going there is no MTV.There is also alot of maintenance work that has to be done while the ship is at shore. Which means scrapping, painting, fixing, adjusting and, of course, re-adjusting (very important). There are probably some parents out there who worry about their son or daughter heading off to Antarctica to confront illegal whalers. It should comfort them to hear that just before leaving the ship was carefully checked from bow to stern by independent inspectors who are brought in every five years to make sure that everything is shipshape. Every bolt has been tightened, all the gaskets are properly sealed and the hull has been inspected from keel to deck. |
|
After all the hard work it felt good to finally head out to sea. The whole crew went up on deck to wave goodbye to friends that aren’t coming. Then they all stayed to watch Eddie, the bosun, cement the anchor chain locker - where the chain goes through the deck - shut . Eddie says this is to keep the anchor chain locker from filling with water and sinking the ship. But I think it’s a metaphor for our resolve. After all, we won’t be needing those anchors while we’re busy chasing down Japan’s illegal whalers. | 
| |