Rattus Norvegicus

The Shack is currently on hire fro three to four weeks to the South Georgia Heritage Trust.
Ou r main function for this trip is supplying logistical support to establish depots for the Rat eradication project currently being undertaken by the trust.


When we joined the vessel in Mare Harbour, Falkland Islands four weeks ago, the loading of all the equipment, fuel and containers of rat and mouse pellets was in full swing. The morning of our departure saw the three helicopters  landing on board and being stowed in the hold, with rotors removed. Quite a sight to see three helo's stacked carefully nose to tail in one hold.

Field of Seals

Rats were introduced to Island during the whaling period of the early to mid 20th Century and have spread to various parts of the Island. Studies have found that they have a significant impact on bird life on the Island and have been feeding on nesting chicks. The Island birds having evolved without any land based predators have no defences against these attacks and are literally sitting "ducks".

Grytviken

The project is privately funded through the "South Georgia Heritage Trust"  
For more information on the Trust and a Newsletter on our activities please go to the following link. 
Navigate to News and resources – Project News February 2013.

http://www.sght.org/newsletters-and-publications      

Shore Leave

 

  Old Whaling Station

After a smooth crossing we arrived at King Edward Point (KEP). This is always special, as you come around the point the views of the ice covered mountain are spectacular with the old crumbling Whaling station nestling at their feet. We immediatley commenced offloading containers on the hatch covers in order to unload the Helicopters. It took about a day to get all three Helos out, serviced and running and by the next morning we were heading out again on our first deployment. We arrived in Antarctic Bay and the helicopters soon arrived in the area. Having three helicopters and only one heli-deck requires us to do some interesting jiggling about. It is something akin to musical chairs, to get aircraft, pilots and personnel where we want them to be. This first attempt proved the point rather well as we landed up having three helicopters ashore in really bad weather. The ship headed around to the Southern side of the Island and the aircraft were stuck on the ground for over two days. They eventually found a gap in the weather and made a dash for KEP.

Grytviken Whaling Sation as it was

Meanwhile on the southern side of the Island the weather improved enough for us to get some cargo ashore with our workboat Tula. This consisted of fuel for the aircraft and pallets of rat and mouse pellets. There was much relief on board when we finally managed to get some cargo ashore. After that the Helicopters finally made back to our area and cargo slinging operations began in earnest. With three helicopters this job is done much more quickly than with the boats. There were ocassional breaks for weather and overnight stops in King Haakom Bay in search of shelter. This bay is the area were Shackleton's boat the, James Caird, came ashore on there epic trip from Elephant Island. 

The Rat pellets will be distributed using adapted agricultural spreaders by the helicopters. GPS mapping will be used to accurately plot the areas covered. The Glaciers on the Island restrict the movement of the Rats from one “green” area to the other. This has allowed the project managers to try out their techniques on secluded small areas and then do surveys to see how effective the poisons have been. So far so good, we believe.

In case anyone is wondering, the pellets are completely ignored by the rest of the wildlife on the Island but irresistible to the Rats.

The Depot laying finally came to an end on Thursday thev 28th Feb, which saw the vessel anchored in Husvik bay and unloading the final logistical support equipment for the Base camp adjacent to the old Whaling station.  The curious fur seals not quite sure what to make of these noisy red and yellow flying machines.

By the end of the day the job was completed and farewells, "good lucks" and "bon voyages" exchanged as the the Shack upped her anchor and headed out for the open seas on her way back to Stanley.

After an uneventful three day passage The "Shack" arrived back in Stanley on the 4th Matrch. We will spend some time doing loading cargo for the various bases we will calling to next.

Site of Base Camp - Husvik Harbour

 

 

JCR visiting Gryviken