![]() ![]() We completed operations off Antarctica as usual in April 2008, stopped for maintenance in Simons Town, spent the UK summer off West Africa as assigned, went back to the ice in Autumn 2008, and then spent a month off South Georgia before steaming for Valparaiso, Chile and a Christmas holiday for the crew in late 2008. In 2007, this annual ritual was disrupted by an extended deployment Endurance was tasked to spend the austral winter working off the coast of West Africa rather than returning to the UK. For the first 15 years of her RN life she deployed to Antarctica for the austral summer, returning each winter to the UK. In addition, she was able to survey previously uncharted waters and with two helicopters embarked, support the British Antarctic Survey in the excellent work they do down there. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s requirement to maintain a Royal Naval presence in the deep south remained. In 1992, the MV Polar Circle was bought, renamed and thus replaced the previous vessel of the same name. ![]() HMS Endurance was the Royal Navy’s ice breaker. More detail is found at the end of this page. This article is one of a three part series focusing on leadership, culture and priorities. The crew and I spent the next 24 hours fighting for our lives. Such was our remoteness our Mayday call went unanswered. Her main engine room filled to the deckhead within 30 minutes. 10 years ago to the day (16 December 2008), the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Vessel HMS Endurance catastrophically flooded. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |