Transit

Fleet Position: 88.26 N, 88.00 E

Weather & Ice :
Overcast fog at times, temp 0 C. Wind 5-10 m/s N

Report 4: In the ice

Starting on a lighter note, we report on the long-standing Swedish tradition of serving a dinner of soup, pancakes and punch on Thursday nights. The soup, of split-pea and ham, can be garnished with various herbs, spices, and mustard spread along the rim of the bowl. The pancakes, which are to be eaten second, are accompanied by a wide variety of condiments such as ice cream, whipped cream, jams, preserves, powdered sugar, and even blue cheese. Punch is a sweet liquor, served warm, in a small glass cup or tumbler. The ship's crew and visiting scientists greatly enjoyed the meal and evidenced by the broad grins and the sounds of "skoal" heard round the mess. As it's easy to lose track of hours and days on the expedition, a regularly scheduled meal not only reminds people of home, and keeps spirits up, but also let's us know that another week has passed.

We hope to reach our first coring site by Friday night, because it's less than 85 nautical miles away. We're ahead of schedule because of favourable weather and ice conditions and because of the path-breaking abilities of the SOVETSKIY SOYUZ.

The helicopter has been used to transfer people among vessels, and when visibility is good, such as on Thursday, to conduct long-distance ice reconnaissance to help determine the best possible route for the convoy.

The first 24 hours at the coring site will be used to establish and test the ice management system and to position the coring vessel. Then, if all goes well, we will begin to core, which is the ultimate objective of this expedition. Much depends on Mother Nature. We hope she continues to smile kindly upon us.

Fleet position: 87.00 N, 39.13 E

Weather and Ice :
Ice conditions have become more difficult this morning

Report 3:
Convoy continues through the ice

The SOVETSKIY SOYUZ, ODEN and VIDAR VIKING proceeded through the ice at about 11 knots, finding plenty of open-water leads along a track previously taken by the YAMAL (SOVETSKIY SOYUZ sister ship which has been carrying tourists for high Arctic Cruises). Excellent progress has been made made. The helicopters were prepared for flying and safety training was held for potential passengers. In the late morning, one ESO person and two scientists were helicoptered to the VIDAR VIKING to set up the computers and carry out further preparation; they returned by basket at 2300 hrs to be replaced by the chemistry/biology party of three.

Ice conditions have become more difficult this morning, but good progress had been made during the night and at 0900 there were 480 km to the site. Transfers to the VIDAR VIKINGcontinue with ESO staff loading the database system.

Fleet Position: 84.14 N, 40.59 E

Weather and ice:
Temp -2.9 C, wind 6 m/s N, patches of fog with some snowfall. Light one-year-old ice with a few floes of multi-year ice. Ice coverage 80 - 90 per cent.

Report 2:
Rendezvous at the ice edge

Tuesday evening all three ice breakers met at the ice edge northwest of Franz Josef Land at latitude 81.40 N. The convoy, led by SOVETSKIY SOYUZ, is now heading north making a good speed of 9-10 knots.

The first ice floes were observed at approximately 19:00 and the first polar bear was sighted after four hours sailing in the pack ice. A few more bears, either sole males or females followed closely by one or two cubs, have been seen on the ice floes, watching the convoy of ships pass by. With regard to ice conditions, Arno Keinonen, the director of ice management, said, “We’re fortunate to have very favourable conditions. The convoy is progressing at speeds that are placing us ahead of schedule.”

Helicopter flying operations have started, and the primarily task is moving people between ships. The helicopters will also be used for ice reconnaissance. Inter-ship communication systems are being established and the laboratories are being organized to process core samples and to collect data. Everything needs to be ready when the intensive coring work begins in a few days.

Position
ODEN: 75.44 N, 29.48 E
VIDAR VIKING: 74.34 N, 27.32 E
SOVETSKIY SOYUZ: 81.00 N, 43.00E

Weather at ODEN:
Temp: 5.9 C, Wind: 8 m/s NW, overcast skies with occassional showers, good visibility.

REPORT 1: Leaving Tromsö
At midnight on Saturday, August 7, the Swedish icebreaker ODEN departed from Tromsö, Norway, and headed north into the Barents Sea. Twelve hours later, the coring vessel VIDAR VIKING left Tromso. She is faster, and we expect her to catch ODEN later tonight and before we reach the edge of the Arctic sea ice cap where the rendezvous with the Russian icebreater SOVETSKIY SOYUZ shall take place. We have experienced good weather and calm seas. Expedition participants have been busy preparing for the work ahead. Planning meetings and information sessions have filled the day.

The route in the next twenty four hours will take us east of Svalbard and the White Island and west of Franz Josefs Land. The Franz Josefs Land was first explored by an Austrian expedition in 1873 and named after the Emperor of Austria. This will also be the last land in sight for us during the next five weeks until heading south again.

These lands have played a dramatic role in the history of Arctic exploration. On White Island the Swede S.A. André and his companions perished after the long ardous walk from their ill fated balloon flight in 1897. The previous year on the other side of the strait Fridtjof Nansen and his assistant Johansen spent the winter in a primitive hut after an unsuccessful attempt to reach the North Pole on foot. They were lucky to run into Mr Jackson, a British explorer who happened to visit Franz Josefs Land that Summer 1896 and who was able to give them a ride back to Norway!

Oden has just caught up with the midnight sun at latidtude 73 North. From now on the expedition will enjoy daylight 24 hours a day.