This will be a top “sticky” post for awhile since interest is high – new stories will appear below this one – Anthony
UPDATE: Josh channels the boat people
UPDATE2: Another irony is discovered, this one doubly deep. See update 2 below.
UPDATE4: AMSA: Helicopter rescue of Akademik Shokalskiy likely to commence shortly
(It’s off again, then now its on again, with report the helicopter has landed)
UPDATE5: All the passengers (tourists and scientists) are off the ship
UPDATE6: Tough questions need to be asked
UPDATE7: Trouble on the rescue ship – reaching open water not so easy
As we reported previously on WUWT here and here, the saga of the “climate scientists/tourists trapped in ice” continues to fascinate many. Now a second ship has given up on rescue, after the Chinese ship “Snow Dragon” gave up two days ago. The Aurora Australis has abandoned rescue of the trapped Russian “research”vessel in Antarctica and a helicopter evacuation in now being ordered. This episode has taken on a heightened comedic fiasco-like quality.
Now, with such a fantastic failure in full world view, questions are going to start being asked. For example, with advanced tools at their disposal (that Mawson never had) such as near real-time satellite imaging of Antarctic sea ice, GPS navigation, on-board Internet, radar, and satellite communications, one wonders how these folks managed to get themselves stuck at all. Was it simple incompetence of ignoring the signs and data at their disposal combined with “full steam ahead” fever? Even the captain of the Aurora Australis had the good sense to turn back knowing he’d reached the limits of the ship on his rescue attempt. Or, was it some sort of publicity stunt to draw attention? If it was the latter, it has backfired mightily.
One might argue that with photos like the one below, this whole “Spirit of Mawson” research expedition, is little more than a media stunt.
Source: [ http://twitter.com/GdnAntarctica/status/412977161323036672 ]
Even after the ship was trapped, these reporters still had a party like atmosphere going on:
Source: [ http://twitter.com/GdnAntarctica/status/416881634273525761/photo/1 ]
Yesterday, Andrew Revkin tweeted something that I agreed with, especially since so many of the people trapped in the ice on the ship seem to have a nonchalant, almost partly-like atmosphere going on.
Scientist on trapped Antarctic ship: "Fantastic-I love it when the ice wins & we don't." http://t.co/UsxA2tiV2i What about rescue risk/cost?
— Andrew Revkin 🌎 ✍🏼 🪕 ☮️ (@Revkin) December 29, 2013
Yes, the cost and risk is significant. These folks trapped on-board don’t seem to be cognizant of that issue, following the #spiritofmawson Twitter feed, it’s like watching reports (with pictures and video) from a high school class party.
And here’s the kicker. Even the public saw through the charade at the beginning. Trying to get crowd funding from the public for this trip failed miserably as this Indigogo campaign shows:
Source: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-us-return-to-mawson-s-antarctic-hut-the-home-of-the-blizzard
Maybe it had to do with the ridiculous image of Professor Chris Turney in full cold weather gear standing in the midst of a tropical forest.
Right after the ship got stuck and there was a realization that the world was watching, one scientist on-board, Dr. Chris Fogwill, of the University of New South Wales, decided that it would be an opportune time to hit the public for money again:
Source: http://www.spiritofmawson.com/
And again, the public has seen through this, and today, the campaign remains stuck at $1000 with just a few donors. People are realizing that there’s no real science being done on this trip, and that it seems to be little more than a chartered party boat for Antarctic enthusiasts and media.
Now, with the ship to be evacuated via helicopter, will the Akademik Shokalskiy join the list of recent ships that have been sunk in Antarctic waters?
Ships that have sunk in Antarctic waters in recent years (h/t to David Archibald)
The Brazilian yacht “Endless Sea” sank in Maxwell Bay, Ardley Cove on Saturday 7th April, 2012. It was used for “scientific and educational expeditions”.
The sunken remains of the 76-ft Mar Sem Fin, aka “Endless Sea”, which sunk on April 7, 2012, lies at a depth of about 9 meters (30 ft) in Ardley Cove, Antarctica.
In November 2007, the Linblad Explorer hit sea ice and sank.
In April 2013, the Chinese factory fishing ship Kai Xin caught fire and sank near Bransfield Strait at the Antarctic Peninsula.
And there are others, these are just a few recent ones.
With so much concern for the pristine environment of Antarctica, one wonders how much environmental damage these sinkings are doing.
And when the trip is nothing more than a party for your friends and media, disguised as a “scientific expedition”, one wonders if there shouldn’t be some moratorium on such trips.
Richard Tol summed it all up nicely with one sentence:
There has been a strong and statistically significant upward trend in climate-change-related public-relations disasters #spiritofmawson
— Richard Tol (@RichardTol) December 30, 2013
UPDATE:
The #spiritofmawson hashtag is now getting competition from the hashtag #ClitanicDisaster in honor of the trapped climate scientists that the MSM won’t mention as being climate scientists.
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UPDATE 2:
reader Aphan writes on 2013/12/31 at 7:16 pm
I don’t know if anyone was posted this yet, but the IRONY just gobsmacked me.
The British “explorers” on board the MV Explorer who were “commemorating the Spirit of Shackleton” found themselves repeating HIS adventure when their ship struck a piece of submerged ice and then SANK in the Antarctic in November of 2007! None of the passengers or crew were lost. But HOW AMAZING is it that both the “Spirit of Mawson” trip AND the “Spirit of Shackleton” cruise trips ended in disaster from sea ice?????
http://www.jamescairdsociety.com/shackleton-news-104519.htm
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/news/explorer-sinks-antarctica.html
I mean…come on. What are the odds?
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Related articles
- Saving the Antarctic scientists, er media, er, activists, er tourists trapped by sea ice (wattsupwiththat.com)
- Antarctic rescue mission fails to reach trapped ship (theguardian.com)
“Antarctic ship passengers to be evacuated by Chinese helicopter”
The MV Xue Long has only one Ka-32 type helicopter. Rescuing the people will not be easy as it will depend on: weather; skill of the pilot; aircraft performance & condition; and landing zone condition (assuming they can land). The rescue might take some time!
I imagine these “researchers” are waiting passively for rescue while bellied up to the buffet or bar when not tweeting or face booking. Personally I always enjoyed a more active life like rugby and sailing off shore as well as the natural sciences unlike those boys and girls from the guardian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-PpU8MUbHE
This whole fiasco reminds me a little of 1996 Everest fiasco described in “Into Thin Air”.
CNN is actually moderating (censoring) comments in the articles they have posted:
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/30/world/antarctic-ship-stuck/
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/29/world/antarctica-ship-stuck/
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/28/world/antarctica-ship-stuck/
If you point out the underlining AGW aspects, its will get taken down.
I just don’t get their problem. Didn’t Prince Harry get to the south pole this year and it was like a cake walk, right? Hmmmm… no maybe the Prince had some problems too…. but, but, but it IS summer down there… I just don’t understand…this is a warming planet, right?
@Jerome Hudson – what is says is that this individual has grown up within and assumed the supremacy of the modern industrial state that, even as he attempts to prove the need for its demolition, he cannot picture the situation wherein the ice ‘winning’ means his death.
I tried to find the webcam image from the Aurora Australis in the ice, but all I found was a day-old image showing open sea. Have I missed something, or is this just another inconvenient photo that we will never see? http://www.antarctica.gov.au/webcams/aurora
The tone of these articles makes it seem like you’re rooting for these people to drown. They’re in real danger, I hope they get rescued. After they’re safe, I’ll join in making fun of them.
rubberduck says: December 30, 2013 at 12:10 pm
I tried to find the webcam image from the Aurora Australis in the ice……
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Aurora was a potential and now failed rescuer inbound to ice trapped vessel…
Mark says: December 30, 2013 at 12:13 pm
The tone of these articles makes it seem like you’re rooting for these people to drown. They’re in real danger, I hope they get rescued. After they’re safe, I’ll join in making fun of them.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What a joke. Example? Show me.
Tom J says:
December 30, 2013 at 11:03 am
The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinac sits pier side in sight of the Mackinac Bridge in Mackinaw City, Michigan.
131 South Huron Avenue
Mackinaw City, MI 49701
themackinaw.org
Ode to the lost souls of good ship “Shokalski”
Asleep under heavy dream
profuse with horrific visions
hardly of a choice accessible.
With a fleeting contemplation
of this nightmare they’re freed,
but alas deceived of any hope
in an even darker realm they sunk .
Mark says:
December 30, 2013 at 12:13 pm
The tone of these articles makes it seem like you’re rooting for these people to drown. They’re in real danger, I hope they get rescued. After they’re safe, I’ll join in making fun of them.
____________________________
Maybe a bit, but there has been much said in these threads regarding the safety of the passengers and crew. This has gone on for days and the people aboard the unfortunate Akademik Shokalskiy keep making absurd statements.
A little mirth and merriment is to be expected in response.
Mark – “They’re in real danger”
They are in real danger and they themselves are oblivious to it. They clearly didn’t understand the risks when they set off, nor do they now. Even worse they do not understand the dangerous situation they have put the rescuers in!
While never wishing personal harm on any of them I wonder if this experience will render their accusing pointing fingers less useful.
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/12/30/stuck-in-our-own-experiment-leader-trapped-team-insists-polar-ice-is-melting/
Expedition leader blames climate change for trapping his ship in the remains of iceberg B-15, which apparently is now no more than 10 feet thick. At what point does an iceberg become sea ice?
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=68999
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceberg_B-15
A little mirth and merriment is to be expected in response.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Exactly. These morons deserve our most vigorous ridicule AND best efforts at rescue.
Rob Dawg says: December 30, 2013 at 12:31 pm
While never wishing personal harm
_________________________________-
Sorry you’ve been bullied/shamed into thinking criticism of stupidity equals wishing others harm.
Cute? Innocent? They only eat fish? Only when fish is all they have…
When the radio aerials have iced over and no one can hear the screams, then….
…then the penguins will come for them!
They will find a way in. They always do…
As I made mention over on JoNova’s:
I wonder if there is a Mrs Chippy on board this ship? I hope she doesn’t suffer the fate of her predecessor. But then, Turney would need a James Caird to get him off the ice.
Dobes says:
December 30, 2013 at 11:28 am
Why is it such a surprise the people who routinely ignore real world observation are stuck in a real world observation. I’m sure their models said the ice wasn’t there
________________
The models are accurate. Are you implying the ice really exists?
I am concerned about the apparent disconnect between beliefs and reality described above: –
“The Guardian/BBC journalist Alok Jha for example, describes in graphic detail what happened to his hand when he exposed it to the elements outside “to type an email”. His surprise at how quickly he started to lose the use of his hand is absolutely evident. ”
Katabasis – many thanks.
We have – to too great an extent – become urbanites, not really exposed to the weather, even. Changes in climate – the real, outside the port-holes climate, rather than that in the cyber space of the computer models – take time.
Some are cyclic – like daily and annual changes in weather; you now, ice melting in summer.
Like others note, there is a real risk that rescuers’ lives may be put at risk. I imagine flying helicopters in Antarctic snowstorms doesn’t please your life insurer.
Ah, but still – per the BBC: –
“Despite being trapped, the scientists have continued their experiments, measuring temperature and salinity through cracks in the surrounding ice.”
No word on the BBC/guardian types. Perhaps they’re seeing if taking your hand out of your Plar glove cools it quicker in a thirty-knot wind.
I just hope that all ends well – not least for the rescuers.
Auto
Clay Marley says:
December 30, 2013 at 11:19 am
In his Indiegogo video, Turney says (at about 5:35) that Commonwealth Bay has been badly clogged with sea ice limiting access for the last 3 years. Funny, that is about where they are stuck, off Commonwealth Bay.
They know but they do not understand, their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. They bow down to a block of wood.
———————
Or they knew exactly what they were doing and this is all a big PR stunt – why else would BBC and Guardian journalists be on a scientific research vessel.
When the radio aerials have iced over and no one can hear the screams, then….
+++++++++++++++++++++
In space no one can hear you scream. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(film)
They steered their ship by computer models, not real data.