15 men

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In Uncategorized / By Marty St. James

15 fit men are asked for…as the captain says we will try again to get into the boat…but need to be quick as the sea is getting rougher. Down the flimsy rope ladder we go into the rolling little yellow beach craft below. 15 of us then to wait for 1/2 hour in the boat whilst others get into the craft. We all have to push along the haul of the ship to stop us hitting its sides and causing more problems.

The journey to the beach is turbulent to say the least…rolling as we go…finally we perform a beach landing we all clap..the ship sounds it big fog horn in the far distance – in relief I suspect!

Cannot get off the ship

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In Uncategorized / By Marty St. James

After a three hour ship journey we anchore a long way off shore at Frei the Chilean base. One of the small landing crafts is lowered by crane into the rolling sea below, along with 4 navy men and our luggage. The situation is disturbing to watch. The boat looks like it might sink as the waves bounce over it. A crew member is thrown to the floor of the boat. The ropes securing the boat to the ship breaks. The metal rope attachment then snaps off on the other rope. The craft then breaks free of the ship and has to be hauled back. Its a mess and dangerous. The crew are screaming at each other.

Climbing the ships rope ladder

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In Uncategorized / By Marty St. James

Climbing the large Argentine cargo ships rope ladder in cold rolling Antarctic sea is no joke for any of us…the ships sides are high, the wind, freezing water and rising and falling little boat we are trying to get off are all unforgiving…the ladder is swinging…its almost embarrassing