Working Conditions Aboard the Ocean-Giant

The ice-strengthened HMNZS 'Aoteraroa' will head straight down to Antarctica on its appointed date, due to issues with the 'Ocean Giant' of the US Antarctic Program (USAP) which required some unscheduled maintenance repairs that will delay its arrival at McMurdo Station, which is about three kilometers away from New Zealand’s Scott Base, by about 10 days. Therefore, the cargo operations at McMurdo will conclude in late February 2022. The cargo delays allowed the USAP to accelerate the arrivals and departures of the fuel tanker. The HMNZS 'Aotearoa' Antarctica New Zealand logistics co-ordinator Paul Woodgate said there were no supply shortages at Scott Base due to the delayed arrival of the 'Ocean Giatn'. The HMNZS 'Aotearoais' is expected to be at the McMurdo Ice Pier some time in the second week of February. Its departure will be timed to ´match the arrival of HMNZS 'Canterbury', carrying additional stores and water production capability, and the Australian Navy’s HMAS 'Adelaide'. The 'Canterbury' sailed on Jan 23 s with New Zealand Army personnel and vehicles. The 'Ocean Giant' left Los Angelese on Jan 10 towards Lyttelton with an ETA as of Feb 4.