Preparations behind the scenes for the new journey.
Moored along the harbour in Ushuaia. A successful Antarctic season followed the South Pacific Ocean crossing and Cape Horn crossing. The Old Lady Europa already has countless miles on her back of the Southern Ocean's cold waters and the White Continent's icy landscapes. Now, for a handful of days, she lays alongside Ushuaia port, getting ready, preparing all for her last visits of the year to the southern continent and the challenging waters surrounding it.
Ahead, a long voyage of about two months. On her way, remote destinations such as Antarctica, South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha, and the legendary expanses of the Drake Passage, Scotia Sea, and South Atlantic. An outstanding blend of an ocean crossing with the chance to visit regions well off the beaten track, all depending on the moody weather, winds, sea state, and ice conditions—so variable in the southern high latitudes.
During her stay at the harbour of the self-acclaimed World's southernmost city, high and low aloft, over the outer spaces, and below decks, it bursts with activity. Making the ship ready and well-stocked for such a journey takes countless hours of hard work under the changeable Ushuaia weather and the involvement of numerous crew members.
After her last Antarctic experiences, she reached port, calling for some rig and sail mending, ongoing maintenance projects, fuel and water bunkering, and for loading and properly storing enough provisions for the length of the trip. Cabins, common spaces, and decks ask for preparation and a good cleaning before welcoming the embarking ship’s complement.
Amidst all of those ongoing preparations and maintenance of the ship for the trip that is about to start, the crew looks for the time to ready the ship to accommodate on board the celebrations of Argentine Antarctic Day.
On the 22nd of February, this event commemorates the inauguration of the Meteorological Observatory on Laurie Island (South Orkney Islands), considered the first established Antarctic base. It was set up first by the Scottish Antarctic Expedition (1902-04), and by the end of the project, it was handed to the Argentine Government. Since then, Argentina has held a longstanding and continuous presence and scientific research in Antarctica.