This is very helpful when breaking through ice, but in giant ocean swells the ship rocks back and forth quite a bit. Just sitting in my cabin, I could hear my clothes sliding around in cabinets and the water in the toilet splashing. The rule on the ship is “one hand for the ship, one hand for yourself”. This means that it is best to always be holding onto a railing or wall for stability, and then to have the other hand free to protect your body if needed. Many people here find the rocking of the ocean quite comforting, a few people are looking a little queasy after our first night at sea, but all of us agree that the movement of the ship increases the feeling that we are on a great adventure.
It has been amazing to watch the mostly South African crew of the S.A. Agulhas II as they go about their work on the ship. South Africans take a lot of pride in this ship—as they should! It’s a floating laboratory, a cozy hotel, a heli-port, and a world-class ice breaker, all wrapped up in one. The ship is owned by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, and long after this mission is complete, the S.A. Agulhas II will help many more scientists and explorers conduct important research in the Antarctic.
