Aurora Australis Voyage 1 (FIRE) 1998-99 Underway Data

This dataset contains the underway data collected during the Aurora Australis Voyage 1 1998-99. This was a dedicated marine science cruise aimed at researching winter-time oceanographic, glaciological, meteorological and biological processes within a polynya near the Mertz Glacier. However, the mission was aborted after a serious engine room fire occurred one week into the voyage. Underway data are available online via the Australian Antarctic Division Data Centre. For further information, see the Marine Science Support Data Quality Report at the Related URL section. From the voyage leader's report:Voyage one of RSV Aurora Australis for the 1998-99 season was a marine science voyage, aimed at investigating winter-time oceanographic, glaciological, meteorological and biological processes within a polynya on the Antarctic coast. It was only the second ANARE marine science voyage to be undertaken during winter (the first was the HiHo-HiHo/Formex experiment in August 1995), and the first time that the vessel was to be taken right into the Antarctic coast during winter. The voyage left Hobart on 15 July and was scheduled to return on 3 September 1998.After successfully delivering expeditioners and essential cargo to Macquarie Island, the vessel proceeded towards the Mertz Glacier Polynya (67S, 145E), entering the pack ice on the morning of 21 July. At 0230 AEST on 22 July, when the vessel was only about 50 nautical miles north of the outer edge of the polynya, and just after the scientific program had commenced, a major fire occurred in the ship's engine room. The fire was extinguished without injury to any of the ship's crew or expeditioners; but it caused extensive damage, particularly to the engine room wiring and control systems.Repairs were made over the next 3 days, while within the pack ice. The vessel was able to commence the return voyage on the evening of July 26, reaching the Derwent Estuary without external assistance. Voyage 1 finished when the Aurora Australis docked at Princes Wharf at 0400 on 31 July. Because of the fire, none of the scientific objectives of the voyage were achieved.