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Through the blizzard

Taken at Mawson Antarctica 58 years ago today, on 13 Feb 1966, an unforgettable day. During the previous night a blizzard brought winds gusting over 100 kt (185 km/hr) which broke the mooring cables of our ship, the "Nella Dan". Before the winds could blow it onto the rocks across the harbour, the captain ordered the engines to "half ahead" and drove her onto the rocks. As an ice-strengthened ship, the bows were able to take this and the engines kept her in place. This was taken on b/w film as I came off night shift, I also later took a coloured image when the wind and drifting snow eased. FOOTNOTE. The following day the ship backed off the rock bank undamaged.
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19 comments

Diana Australis said:

An extraordinary picture from a rather outrageously fierce storm George. You certainly had some adventures in the Antarctic.
Lots of love…Diana
6 months ago

tiabunna replied to Diana Australis:

Thank you, Diana. Mawson has blizzards of that intensity many times yearly, though less so in "summer'. Big huggss.
6 months ago

Gillian Everett said:

Wow, great memories. How long were you there, George?
6 months ago

tiabunna replied to Gillian Everett:

We left Melbourne in Dec 65 and returned in early March 67, Gillian.
6 months ago ( translate )

Jaap van 't Veen said:

Looks very serious
6 months ago ( translate )

Annemarie said:

impressive!
6 months ago ( translate )

Malik Raoulda said:

Remarquable témoignage catastrophique et mémorable.
Un moment qu'on ne pourra jamais oublier.
Bonne et agréable journée paisible.
6 months ago ( translate )

LutzP said:

Wow, what an adventure and memory. I am always glad to have kept such old shorts, even if they are not really masterworks or perfekt. Today and being beyond 80 they serve to look back at the pleasures and adventures of live and to places, which I will never see again. Keep going George and let us have more of this
6 months ago

William Sutherland said:

Incredible capture!

Admired in: www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
6 months ago ( translate )

Nouchetdu38 said:

Interesting photo and text!***********
6 months ago

Günter Klaus said:

Da zeigst du ein tolles Bild lieber George,da vergeht einen alles,wenn man da unterwegs sein muss :))

Wünsche noch einen schönen Nachmittag,liebe Grüße Güni :))
6 months ago ( translate )

Nora Caracci said:

stunning document !
bravo al capitano !
6 months ago ( translate )

RHH said:

Incredible story and what a memory.
6 months ago

Pam J said:

A CAPTAIN WHO WAS A TRUE SEAMAN AND KNEW HI S SHIP WELL
6 months ago

Don Sutherland said:

Exceptional capture.
6 months ago ( translate )