ANTARCTIC expeditioners rescued by an Australian icebreaker have apologised for an operation that could cost taxpayers up to $2.4 million.
Fifty-two passengers rescued from a Russian ship trapped in sea ice have arrived in Hobart aboard the Australian Antarctic vessel Aurora Australis, nearly three weeks after the emergency began.
…
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s come out to help us,” leader of the privately funded expedition, Professor Chris Turney, told a media conference in Hobart.
“We are terribly sorry for any impact that it might have had on fellow colleagues whose work has been delayed.
“Any experienced Antarctic scientist knows that’s an inherent risk.”
Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) director Dr Tony Fleming said costs were still being determined but could range from $1.8 million to $2.4 million.
…
Costs associated with delays to scientific programs, including a major study of ocean acidification scheduled for next year, were harder to pin down, Dr Fleming said.
“The government will be pursuing all avenues to recover costs and minimise the burden to the Australian taxpayer,” he said.
More at The Australian here
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Meanwhile Steve McIntyre points out that it is getting harder and harder for them to wiggle out of culpability:
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the University of New South Wales is a signatory to the sub-charter of the Akademik Shokalskiy.
…
I don’t know how liability for rescue costs is allocated. However, the fact that the University of New South Wales is a party to the sub-charter places its potential liability in a new light. However, in most legal proceedings, plaintiffs look for the party with the deepest pockets, which, in this case, would be the University of New South Wales.
In another story, New Details on the Ship of Fools Steve writes:
The precise chronology of the Ship of Fools on December 23 has been a topic of interest on skeptic blogs, including my recent post demonstrating the falsity of Turney’s excuses. However, up to today, this chronology had received zero media coverage, despite several reporters from major media on the Ship of Fools.
Today, there are two stories (BBC and Sydney Morning Herald , both of which contain damning information (especially the latter.) Note embedded link in latter article h/t Bob Koss, with important details not reported in the main article.
…
Turney’s defenders have attempted to transfer blame from the expedition to the Russian captain. However, Mortimer (though not Turney) squarely acknowledged that the delays were the “responsibility of the expedition team, not Captain Kiselev.”
It looks as if the press is starting to ask questions:
Antarctic cruise routes face scrutiny
Antarctic authorities want more say over where private expeditions venture after revealing a rescue mission this summer could cost Australian taxpayers $2.4 million.
Permits for a group whose chartered Russian ship became trapped in sea ice last month were issued without considering its proposed course.
More: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/20931702/rescued-antarctic-passengers-arrive-home/
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SkyNews has video here: http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=944004&vId=4312511&cId=Top%20Stories
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UPDATE: This SMH story pretty well nails it. Excerpt:
“Everyone on board was keen to make the journey across the fast ice to the Hodgeman Islands,” said one passenger.
A weather forecast predicted 25-35 knot winds reaching 40 knots late in the day.
“Despite the wind and extreme cold, the scenery on the journey was spectacular – it seemed unreal, as though we were on a movie set,” said the same passenger.
About 2.30pm the weather deteriorated. At the same time Captain Kiselev saw slabs of sea ice moving into the open water channel from which the ship had entered the area. He called for everyone to return.
A passenger standing near Professor Turney overheard the voyage leader, Greg Mortimer, telling him over the radio to bring passengers back to the ship so it can leave.
But minutes later, Professor Turney drove six more passengers into the field.
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Bob Tisdale queries the amount. I have to agree – £2m doesn’t really sound enough for the original charter delay and both the Chinese and Australis rescues, including helicopters!
Hello, I’m a novice when it comes to this stuff. I’m trying to figure out how some studies claim there is a pause in global warming while others, like the one below, say it’s a record year of warmth. Can someone please explain?
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/noaa-world-in-2013-was-4th-hottest-on-record/
Turney says: “how is the public meant to know the difference between pseudo-science and science?”
I think we already do…
I’m becoming more and more confused about this debacle. No matter how this keeps getting described, each and every passenger was a paying guest of the tour operator. The boat was chartered ( I think this time ) by Australian company Aurora Expeditions ( the boat is chartered by numerous outfits throughout the year ) and any remuneration should be down to the tour operator and their insurers to work out.
Calling this a ‘privately funded’ expedition just clouds the issue. It was a planned vacation that the company regularly offer and tickets are on sale to anyone with the means to purchase. 54 of them if I recall. No space is set aside to add ‘scientific expeditions’ or anything similar. It’s just a cruise for the wealthy. they happen all the time and there are many on sale now on many other boats.
So, basically, it was a wilful act on Chris Turney’s part, setting off with passengers in an Argo AFTER the order had been given for everyone to return to the ship immediately, which fatally delayed the ship’s departure…
@ur momisugly Doug Huffman (January 22, 2014 at 5:10 am)
Fair comment
Just read this again. Turney ‘sold tickets to the general public?’ Unless he owns the company who chartered the vessel then no, he didn’t. He may have resold berths that he paid the charter company for but that’s a different matter.
@ur momisugly zootcadillac (January 22, 2014 at 5:30 am)
Except that (some of – John) those paying customers disobeyed a direct order from the Captain. For that they alone are responsible.
Here’s a quote from one of the earlier links.
“Mortimer repeated that everybody needed to get back to the ship.
The passenger was stunned by the conversation, even more so when, a few minutes later, Turney loaded an Argo with six passengers and drove off towards the Islands.” [away from the ship]
Only $2.4 million?
The “tip of the iceberg” methinks.
The general non-specialist public does NOT know the difference between science and non-sense. See homeopathy.
“We are terribly sorry for any impact that it might have had on fellow colleagues whose work has been delayed.”
“Any experienced Antarctic scientist knows that’s an inherent risk.”
Jeez, even at this stage he gives a politicians -conditional- apology. Where’s the “might have” if other’s work has been delayed.”
Then he continues with the “inherent risk” that his attempted propaganda effort took like it makes it any better.
Unbelievable.
@Phil’s dad. Oh I totally understand that. I’ve already had that discussion with a number of people. I own and operate a sailing ship. On board I would be described as ‘the Master’ yet at all times once the vessel has left the berth it is the captain who is in charge. I’m amazed the captain let Turney behave the way he did. I know people who would have had him forcibly dragged back to the ship and tied in his bunk for endangering the ship’s company. If things happened as reported that is. Again, the whole episode is becoming murkier as more tales are told.
In my comments above I’m trying to make it clear that Turney and his expedition were paying guests of a tour operator who does this thing regularly and it irks me that some reports are trying to paint it as something different.
I could also get into his ridiculous comments about the type of ice and it’s behaviour. But I’m an old man. I don’t have the room in my head to be angry about too many things at once.
Would you like to go yourself? Feel free and the best of luck if you can call it a scientific expedition and get some poor sap to pay the bill 🙂 http://www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/
Now if we can get someone to leak Mortimer’s report….
That [story] from the Mercury was most telling. The Captain was in charge but Turney sent more people out despite the orders to get everyone back to the ship.
@ur momisugly zootcadillac (January 22, 2014 at 5:50 am)
I would have trouble persuading the wife and kids I think. They do like to be warm.
On your main point; it may be that the Prof T. presents it this way as he would have found it difficult to persuade his sponsors to pay for his holidays.
Prof Turney, most responsible for the fiasco, will probably end up being the one paying the least.
Leon Brozyna says:
January 22, 2014 at 6:27 am
“Prof Turney, most responsible for the fiasco, will probably end up being the one paying the least.”
Wait until you see his approved departmental budget for next year. That’s the way you know how badly the University decides to judge him.
Isn’t Mr. Gore rather flush these days, having sold out to Al Jazeera?
M Courtney says January 22, 2014 at 3:19 am:
Well, of course, the someone ‘competent’ who was in charge is demonstrating the same level of competence as the ones who are making the trillion dollar decisions about how they combat CAGW. We’re all doomed.
Turney says: “We got into Cape Denison, we pioneered a new route into the old Mawson hut, travelling across 65 kilometres of sea ice.” (my bold)
A new route, ha!! And when the sea ice disappears or moves off the ‘new route’ goes with it! And this guy is a Professor??? Duh!
RichardLH:
At January 22, 2014 at 6:33 am you say of Turney
I agree.
If they increase his budget and give him an award then they think he was as guilty as sin. That is how universities cover their backsides when one of their own is seen to be a ‘wrong ‘un’.
Richard
Stacey says: @ur momisugly January 22, 2014 at 5:23 am
Hello, I’m a novice when it comes to this stuff. I’m trying to figure out how some studies claim there is a pause in global warming while others, like the one below, say it’s a record year of warmth. Can someone please explain?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The pause means the RATE of warming is ZERO. This does not mean it is not warm.
Think of climbing a hill. along the slope you are climbing up the elevation is increasing. The rate of change in your height is increasing. When you get to the top of the hill the rate of change in the elevation is zero but you are still high up.
You might want to take a look at this too. link
Richard:
Aye, you have the right of the situation. It’s known through the organization that he’s a problem and the easiest way to finalize and fix the ‘true’ problem is to place him in a position of success or failure. First step, give him plenty of rope.
Second step; if he managed his department to success, any level of success, sell him off to be somebody else’s problem. If he bungled it, fire him quietly.
zootcadillac says:
January 22, 2014 at 5:30 am
I’m becoming more and more confused about this debacle. No matter how this keeps getting described, each and every passenger was a paying guest of the tour operator. The boat was chartered….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The responsibility of the Captain is for the boat and when the passengers are on the boat. The leaders, Turney and Mortimer are responsible for when the people are NOT on the boat.
For example:
If my club rents a bus to take us skiing, the driver is responsible for the bus. If he warns us that a blizzard is coming in that evening, we have been warned. If he then radios the club leader that the blizzard is coming in at noon and get back to the bus ASAP he has done his job. If the club leader decides to continue on so they can get pictures at the spot they were headed to an hour away and as a result is four hours late returning stranding the bus in a snow drift, then that is not the bus drivers fault.