Our ice-strengthened vessel Ortelius was positioned in the Fridtjof Sound from where the first helicopter landings were offered on Wednesday to View Point in Duse Bay. Those helicopter operations took the whole day. The weather was fantastic and passengers enjoyed the Antarctic continental landings.
On Thursday 29 November, we offered additional helicopter flights and passengers were able to observe fast-ice and were offered a walking excursion on Devil Island, in between icebergs. The weather and light conditions were again perfect. Although we couldn’t reach Snow Hill Island, everyone was able to observe individual Emperor penguins on the ice and even near the vessel!
The next two ship-based helicopter Weddell Sea expeditions are scheduled for November and December 2013.