November 10, 2024

This Week in Amateur Radio

North America's Premiere Amateur Radio News Magazine

Bouvet Island

Bouvet Island DXpedition

In late April we successfully conducted a 4-day vessel inspection in Brazil that ended with a very good result. The inspection was carried out by a 3rd party vessel inspector and covered more than 105 checkpoints.
The vessel inspection focused on safety equipment, instruments, navigation, engines/machinery, deck, tenders, fuel and fluids, interior, and exterior.
Marama is in very good condition and hence the overall feedback is positive. The vessel went through significant upgrades with regards to machinery and engines in 2021 and has since been tested for years, most lately during the previous Antarctica season. The inspection file resulted in a punch list of only a few minor items to be followed up, no major findings during the 4-day inspection.

The team is currently working on the final preparations for packing the container scheduled to be shipped from Oslo in early September. Preparing the packing and shipping the container is extremely time consuming and requires a focus on details as our more than 2 years of work now is being materialized into packing lists and labeling the equipment. Today we have finally decided our container will be shipped to Port Stanley, Falkland Island. In Port Stanley a local team of ham radio operators will assist us in receiving the container, conduct a container inspection and make sure all is OK before the team arrive in early January. To Bouvet the team will bring with us 6500 kg of equipment, which includes several tons of fuel and food. Our contract allows for 22 days on the island, but we have food for 30 days and a plan for rationing should we have to stay beyond 22 days.

Read more – Southgate: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/june/bouvet-island-dxpedition.htm