A Farewell Tribute to the Antarctic Research Vessel Polar Duke
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A Farewell Tribute to the Antarctic Research Vessel Polar Duke David M. Karl University of Hawaii • Department of Oceanography • Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 USA ~n 14 May 1997, the research vessel (R/V) Polar Over the years, the R/V Polar Duke has transported, Duke departed Punta Arenas, Chile, bound for in addition to scientists and support personnel, many Port Fourchon, Louisiana, thus ending a historic 13-year dignitaries, ambassadors, journalists, artists, adminis- charter to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) trators, and others to the ice to both observe and record as their flagship for science programs in the region of the diverse science programs conducted in Antarctica. the Antarctic Peninsula (Figure 1, A and B). During this The R/V Polar Duke was also called into emergency period, the R/V Polar Duke sailed along the coastal medical evacuation service ("medevac") on several waterways, fjords, and open seas that were only first occasions, earning her well-deserved reputation as the explored less than a century ago. Since January 1985, lifeline of the Antarctic Peninsula. In October 1985, the the R/V Polar Duke logged in excess of 400,000 miles, U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile received a request conducting research on a broad range of topics (Table from the Chilean government for assistance in obtain- 1). In addition to her important marine science mission, ing fuel and supplies that were urgently needed-R/V the R/V Polar Duke also provided year-round logistical Polar Duke to the rescue. Later that same season, the support for the science programs conducted at the U.S. R/V Polar Duke rescued passengers aboard the British research base Palmer Station, for several seasonal field ship RRS John Biscoe, which was beset in pack ice off camps and for the U.S. Special Assignment Airlift Adelaide Island. In 1989, she responded to the ground- Missions (SAAM) to King George Island (Figure 1B). In ing of the Argentine ship MS Bahia Paraiso off Palmer her support capacity, the R/V Polar Duke transported Station and supported the sampling efforts of a science people, equipment, food, construction supplies, and party deployed to the region to assess the impact of this other materials south from Tierra del Fuego, and retro- first major fuel spill in the Southern Ocean (Kennicutt graded all wastes generated south of 60 °, as required by et al., 1990). In 1997, the R/V Polar Duke supported a the Antarctic Treaty. novel, electronic field trip to the Antarctic Peninsula The R/V Polar Duke on one of her many transits through the Gerlache Strait, one of the most spectacular, scenic places on Earth. All photos by author unless otherwise noted. Oceanography • VoL 12 • No. 2/1999 7 Drake Passage ¢~ BransfieldStrait / Deception d "~ ' Anvers IsLar~ ~atlo~ SOUIt/~IFL,4I/I/COCEAN I k,~.~,_.~A FR ICA I/ ...... kt~r o r-"-L. f,/ }so~ "-.co., Ez ,s\ d Wedde# Sea Adelaide SOUTH ~ ~ ~HEA~D1 Island East ' Base ,,~¢'" \, -~ , _ <}" /" "%, '- Macg~'a~ ¢ : CL \ J ! . \ ....... /I 4, Figure 1: (A) Map of the Antarctic continent showing a few of the major areas of R/V Polar Duke science support over the past 13 years. (B) Enlargedportion of the Antarctic Peninsula commonly known as "Duke~ Place." via interactive television and on-line networks. change. She has transported ice and sediment cores that The "Live From Antarctica 2" broadcasts provided chronicle the history of earth's climate, petrified wood an unprecedented view of life aboard the research and animal fossils that support the theory of continen- vessel and science activities on the ice to students tal drift, and modern day biological specimens that are around the world; "real science, real scientists, real providing important clues to the nature of life in the locations and real time" in the true spirit of the NSF- Southern Ocean. This farewell tribute will chronicle a supported Passport to Knowledge series (for more few of the many scientific programs that were well information, contact the LFA-2 website at served by the officers and crew of the Duke and will pro- http: / / quest, arc. nasa. gov / antarctica2). vide a few words of gratitude for a job well done. A The "Duke," as she was fondly called by the men and "R/V Polar Duke Farewell Tribute" World Wide women of the National Science Foundation's U.S. Web site has also been established Antarctic Program (USAP), will be remembered as a (http://hahana.soest.hawaii.edu/polarduke), and all capable and comfortable vessel with an extremely pro- who sailed aboard her are welcome to contribute their fessional, "user-friendly" crew. This commitment to photos, accolades, and sea stories directly to the web- excellence, combined with the expert science support master (see web page for additional instructions). services provided by the USAP contractors ITT Antarctic Services (1985-1990) and Antarctic Support History of U.S. Science Mission Associates (1991-1997) and their capable Chilean in the Antarctic Peninsula maritime port servicing agents (COMAPA and AGUN- SA) is the main reason why many oceanographers rate U.S. interests in the Antarctic Peninsula date back to the R/V Polar Duke a truly exceptional research vessel. the early portion of the 19th century and to the discov- Her legacy of scientific achievement is remarkable, in ery of the Antarctic continent itself. Before achieving its part, because of the unique opportunities and chal- present status as a continent for international scientific lenges that arose during the period of her service, discovery, Antarctica was the domain of whalers, seal- especially with issues related to global environmental ers, and explorers. The name "Antarctica" is derived 8 Oceanography • Vol. 12 • No. 2/1999 from the Greek Antarktos-literally translated meaning In 1963, the United States established an atmospher- opposite Arktos, the constellation in the northern sky. ic research station called Eights Station (named after As early as 150 A.D., Antarctica appeared on Ptolemy's James Eights, the first American scientist to work in world map despite objections by "flat earth" orthodoxy Antarctica) at the base of the Antarctic Peninsula near and other theological views of that period. High lati- 78°W, 78°18'S (Jones, 1964). During that same field sea- tude Southern Ocean expeditions led by Ferdinand son, a broad reconnaissance was conducted in the Magellan (1519-1522) and Francis Drake (1577-1580), Peninsula region for locations to site additional research and the circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent by bases. From an examination of 30 potential sites, Arthur Captain James Cook (1772-1774) all Harbor on the southwestern coast of failed to sight the Antarctic continent. Until the R/V Polar Duke Anvers Island emerged as the most In 1820, a 19-year-old New England was brought into service, desirable location (Jones, 1964), and in sealer, Nathaniel Palmer, sailed to the 1965, a small prefabricated wooden Peninsula region aboard his 14-m the Peninsula-based research structure was erected at Norsel Point sloop, Hero. Although there is some programs were largely centered on Anvers Island (Figure 1B), near the debate on this point, he and his five- at Pahner Station... site of the abandoned British Antarctic man crew may have been the first to Survey's Base "N" that was established see the Antarctic continent after more than three cen- there during the IGY. Thus began a major U.S. presence turies of serious exploration (note: the British Captains in the Antarctic Peninsula. Three years later, U.S. sci- William Smith and Edward Bransfield, and the Estonian ence activities in the Peninsula were transferred to the Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen have also been so present Palmer Station, which was constructed a few credited). kilometers away from "Old Palmer." It was nearly 75 years before any comprehensive sci- In March 1968, the R/V Hero was launched in South entific expeditions were conducted in the Antarctic Bristol, Maine to serve as a support vessel for U.S. Peninsula region. Among the first were the Belgian research activities in the Antarctic Peninsula. The R/V Antarctic expedition in 1897 headed by Adrien Hero (38m, 300 LT displacement) had a ketch-rigged, deGerlache, which included Henryk Arctowski and diesel-powered trawler-type design and was framed Roald Amundsen as members of the party, the Scottish with native oak timbers. Her masts and interior work National Antarctic Expedition (1902-1904) in the were of Oregon fir, and her sides were reinforced with Weddell Sea headed by William Bruce, and several Guayanan greenheart for added hardness and durabili- French expeditions headed by Jean Charcot. The U.S. ty; she had accommodations for six scientists Antarctic Service Expedition in 1939-1941 established a (Anonymous, 1968). The R/V Hero arrived at Palmer "permanent" base (East Base) on Stonington Island in Station on Christmas day, 1968 and served the U.S. Marguerite Bay during Admiral Richard Byrd's third Antarctic program with great distinction for nearly two Antarctic expedition (Figure IB). This was the first decades. Although the R/V Hero was able to conduct a permanent U.S. base on the Antarctic Peninsula. From modest level of oceanographic research, conditions this location in 1947-1948, the famed explorer Captain aboard her were less than ideal, especially considering Finn Ronne conducted a remarkable 84-day sledge jour- the generally inclement weather in the Southern Ocean. ney to Alexander Island (Lipps, 1976). East Base also Consequently, until the R/V Polar Duke was brought into became famous as the site where the first women win- service, the Peninsula-based research programs were tered in Antarctica (Mrs. Ronne and Mrs. Darlington), largely centered at Palmer Station, where scientists had and one left the ice pregnant (Lipps, 1976).