MAUD RETURNS HOME

IGLO LIFE

admin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:34:55 +0000

In good tradition with Roald Amundsen the MRH philosophy is to act in all our activities with respect and admiration relative to nature and those people and societies who have managed to live for generations in close integration with nature, for centuries, often in climate conditions that are extreme and marginal for survival, seen from an urban modern human perspective.

Amundsen spent a lot of time, particulary during the Gjøa expedition, in close relation with Inuit people of that region and learned to understand their survival philosophy and built in this way, by his presence over time, direct participation and profound interest a general and detailed knowledge on how to survive in close interaction with nature as a whole.

There is an inbuilt beauty in all this together with being a key to success, or in other words, survival and abilty to progress, over time.

We wish to bring this message along not just to be good and “environmentally friendly” but rather simply because we do believe in an honest empahsis on being part of nature rather than fight it. It will always be a key to success.
Success in the way of feeling well and in true balance with all what we are – and do.

During our winter visit to Cambridge Bay we met the real arctic athmosphere with ice and snow and low temperatures. We felt strongly the need for being present in all respect. We did not make use of support from heavy technical devices or equipment but based our activities on simple principles, like using a small tent as our base on the ice rather than introducing more heavy installations for our diving and photography and film activites over and under the ice.

On a resting day from diving I took the initative to build an IGLO – in a traditional manner. The iglo is a traditional way of making a protective living shelter in the high arctic, and is a brilliant example of a genious, simple priciple on how to use local resources to create what you need to survive.

The principle of building an Iglo can be looked at as being highly scientific, and an engineer of today can study the theory of the building principle with a high degree of admiration for making use of advanced theorethical physical principles to build a construction that is extremely strong and super functional.
At the same time the Inuits developed and built the iglo based on the principle of trying and failing – evolving gradually, through generations, over time and time again.

So here comes a little picture story showing how much fun one can have in Cambridge Bay on a Sunday in early December 2012, building an Iglo, as always – close to Maud.

Starting off with a block of hard driftsnow. Close to Maud.
photo by jan w

Cutting the snow, nature given temporary building bricks, feels good.
photo by jan w

The wall grows in a spiral which is of crucial importance to keep on going as the wall gradually starts to lean inwards. To constantly define the right degree of wall angle, is the key.
photo by jan w

After lunch the darkness arrives as we keep on playing in the glow of the neon light.
photo by lars n

As the roof narrows in, the wall angle tempts to brake the law of gravity.
photo by lars n

Its always a matter of having good helpers. Bjørn is chief cutter.
photo by lars n

The final stage is a bit nervous for a first-timer in Iglo construction.
Runhild is steady supplier of building material being logistic manager and mental supporter.
photo by lars n

The spiral is an ever returning essential shape.
photo by jan w

A moment of great relief as the last piece is in place.
photo by lars n

Sunday morning catch. I chiseled a round hole in the middle of the Iglo and few minutes later Sunday dinner was secured. What a treat. It gave me a childish feeling of pleasure. Nature life.
photo by jan w

Final stage is to introduce a window. Time for more chiseling.
photo by jan w

The great old pioneer doc-film “Nanook of the north” from 1922, gave me a basis for how to make the window glass. Great thanks to Robert J. Flaherty.
photo by jan w

Window ready for insertion.
photo by jan w

Let there be light.
photo by jan w

Moment of completion. Time to pose.
photo by jan w

MAUD: ICE AND OAK

admin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:52:26 +0000

It has been a very busy last week in Cambridge Bay and now we are ready to take off and depart for Norway. Its a little windy outside so the light snow flows around and we are a bit curious the plane will arrive to pick us up. Well, thats how it is up here in the high north. Nature is in command, after all.

The last days of diving was very fortunate and we managed to collect a good packet og nice pictures as well as a bit of good filming. It is all vey marginal whether to have luck or not. Or as Amundsen liked to say: “there is nothing called luck- just good planning”. I can only agree. At the same time we were lucky to have clear sky and not so much snoowdrift for making good pictures on top of the ice and the diving and photo-equipment realy stood the test.

We are extremely happy to have been able to go here this winter. It really was a totally new experience and the atmosphere both over and under the ice really touched us, and we have collected a lot of material and impressions that we can bring along into the future and present in our House of Maud, to come.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Tandberg brothers who have the courage and vision to make all this come through – step by step.

Runhild hiding behind the old windlass that also followed Fram to the south pole.
photo by jan w

Bow part crushed by the ice with ice iron at original waterline
photo by jan w

History close up: Checking out for Amundsens fingerprint at windlass
photo by jan w

Starboard side of Maud comes up through the winter ice and get exposed to the winter air.
photo by jan w

Front deck with port anchor chain coming out.
photo by jan w

Front detail with ice protection iron visible at low middle.
photo by jan w

Landman Bjørn happy to have Runhild returned up and in the tent.
photo by jan w

Me, with a hint of relief after the final dive under the ice – in Mauds world.
photo by jan w

jan w – 7th of Decemnber 2012

MAUD DOWN UNDER

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:33:54 +0000

There she silently rests under a thick shelf of ice. Solid oak submerged in the arctic freezing cold water. She seems unapproachable and invulnerable. She has survived here for 3 generations. Only the part directly exposed to the winter ice is torn and worn. It emphazices the whole impresssion of drama.

And here we are. Small warmblooded creatures trying to reach in to her – meet the old lady and take in all her power. Maud herself as an old ship seem to be the caretaker of the whole history of Amundsen and his brave men, fighting their way through to those empty impossible places on this planet.
They were polarheroes, but they were also normal human beings, vulnerable and full of respect for their limitations.

We feel the same here and now. The polar night is firm and colossal. Overwhelming in all respect. We are humble, but also intensively focused as we slowly submerge ourselves into the freezing cold artic water. Leaving this world as we know it, inside a little tent on top of the ice. Leaving minus 30 and enter the relatively warm water of minus 1. Yes we can breath down there. We have technology supporting us, and we are also well prepared mentally. Its a challenge in all respect. Not much room for fear og panic. Keep calm.
A hole in the ice is our entrance to Mauds world and it is also our only exit back.
ICE AND OAK – here we come.

Preparing the divehole with entrance for two divers at the same time.
photo by runhild o

A lavuu tent serves naturally as the base camp on the ice over Maud.
photo by jan w

The divehole inside the tent. The tent serves as a good protection from the wind.
photo by jan w

Ready to go. Its a great challenge to enter the water when air temperature is at minus 30 celcius.
photo by jan w

First feel of the arctic water. The hole is illuminated by the red tent.
photo by jan w

photo by jan w

Not a good place to be claustrofibic.
photo by jan w

Photographing the bow of Maud.
photo by runhild o

MOVING FORWARD

admin — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:54:03 +0000

After a few days of preparations in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, we are now pretty close to enter the water and explore the old lady under the ice.

Our super local, advanced Maud basecamp is a red lavuu tent with a hollow floor ideal for entering the wet element. Runhild and myself (jan) will go down while Bjørn (the MRH-team) and Lars (doc-film) will wait patiently for us to return with the latest news from the old lady down under.

We are pretty curious to see how it all looks down there under the ice and hopefully we will gain enough light to collect some nice photage. Pretty exciting to be honest.

A full moon is watching over us as we are preparing to join the old lady Maud for a brief arctic rendevouz.
photo by jan w

Some of the sturdy oak wood on starboard side of Maud is exposed into the winter air.
photo by jan w

bolts and iron and oak wood becomes a sculptural experience.
photo by jan w

VINTER DOCUMENTATION OF MAUD

admin — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 05:42:15 +0000

The Maud Returns Home team is now back in Cambridge Bay for a long waited winter documentation of the old Polar Ship. Its cold here but so incredibly beautiful. The polar night is light and bright. The moon is growing, the snow is brilliant white and the sky is blue and pink and read, and we are enjoying a surreal experience surrounding the Maud with our doings.

After two summers of surveying and documenting the old ship it feels really good to be here now when the whole scenery draws us into the feeling of being back in time when the ship was drifting in the icepack for several years up in the arctic icy desert.

Now the ship has rested in for more than 80 years in Cambridge Bay, frozen into the ice the major part of the year. How we see her now really feels relevant and representative and it makes a great impression how she pushes parts of her body up through the ice with a great force. Its seems incredible that the ship has withstood the forces of the ice during all this years without being ripped totally apart.
We have now spent two days in CB and we are trying to adapt to the change in time as well as temperature.

Our main ambition is to document the ship both over and under the ice-cap and we are already well into the preparations. Main challenges are the cold temperature as well as the dark. When overcoming this we will be well rewarded.

Today we have also prepared an access through the ice to dive down under the and meet the old ship in in her own element. As Amundsen said, ” y o u a r e m a d e f o r t h e i c e “.

walking into the..
photo by jw

..void
photo by jw

Early winter tide changes sets the ice picture around Maud.
photo by jw

Looks like she want to break free.
photo by jw

The cairn is still standing.
photo by jw

MAUD SURVEY 2012 – SUM UP

admin — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 18:26:12 +0000

Local response to MRH repatriation plans
People in Cambridge Bay, both the public as well as the Municipality are in general very positive to our plans to bring the old polar ship finally back to Norway. We have strongly believed from the start in commmunicating our plans to everyone and our public presentations to more than 200 people last week really felt like a breakthrough in this respect. We wish to thank everyone in CB who helped us make this evening possible.

Good support from the local people in CB
photo by jw

Further surveying of the Maud
This summer we had a chance to observe the state of Maud after another year in the ice. There is no doubt that the ice sooner or later will start to brake down the ship also in the lover section that are not directly in contact with the winter ice. This part of the hull still seem to be very much in a good state despite missing the reinforcements normally created by the deck beams of the upper deck. When lifting the ship from the seabed we need to ensure that the lifting forces will work on the lower section of the hull, which still is good and well supported by the lower deck.
The condition of the wood itself seem to be very good all over the ship, even to those parts that are exposed to the ice as well as to the bitter cold winter air above the sea surface.
Despite being torn and worn the wood structure seem to be close to “good as new”. We have brought on shore some long planks from the seabed that has been torn off the hull. These seem to have a very much of the original strength and flexibility, despite having spent the last 80 years under water. This is obviously much thanks to the cold climate in CB.
We have also taken som small samples of the wood to have some analysis made relative to how the wood has withstood the long time in the water as well as in some cases also being exposed to severe cold. There is a tidal difference up to aprox one meter in CB. From our visual observation of the material we can only say that it seem to have taken the toll overwhelmingly well. We look forward to have some further analysis made on this.

Planks from Maud
photo by jw

Salvage operation preparations
This summer in CamBay has also been spent going through the scenario of the next year salvage operations itself, planned for aprox. next August. Since last summer (2011) we have tried to identify all the pit holes in such an operation, and it was now good for us to come back and access our plans, being present on spot. We feel more confident now and the major challenge will always be to have all the logistics well defined when departing next year from Norway with a tug and the barge, now named “Jensen” after the boatbuilder.
We understand there will be a challenge to reach in to Cambridge Bay as early as possible before the new autum and winter sets in. We need to be effective but still not in a hurry, and we have to be open to the possibiity that nature will give us challenges that we never can forsee 100 percent. We need to be prepared as well as we can in every respect within our frames of abilities and possibilities.

View of windlass towards the bow of Maud
photo by jw

The Cairn
When we decided to build a Cairn on the beach just up from where Maud has spent the last 80 years it was not much other than a natural consequence of several factors. Amundsen and his crew also had the habit of building cairns and it seems a natural thing to do. Stones are trustworthy as a natural material and when being put together in some kind of order they can express a lot more than words can do. It is sponatanious expressed interaction between man and nature. We enjoyed doing it and we do hope it can be appreciated. The Cairn might also grow to be, by its physical and visual power of presence, a reducing factor to the possible void that might appear as a consequence of bringing Maud out of Cambridge Bay and home to Norway.

cairn done
photo by Lars Nilssen

cairn and maud
photo by jw

THE MAUD CAIRN

admin — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:20:00 +0000

The last couple of weeks we have, among other things, been busy building a cairn on the beach close to where Maud has rested for the last good 80 years.
Stone is a good material so we felt right from the beginning that to build something out of all the nice flat stones in the area was a good thing to do. The cairn building has kept us warm on cold days and we have enjoyed the process, and the local responce has also been good.
Bjørn takes care of the delivery and I put the stones carefully in their places. A perfect distribution of responsibility, in my opinion.
During the original Maud expedition Amundsen and his crew built (probably among others) a cairn at the northern most point in Russia in the memory of Adolf Erik Nordenskiold and his crew who was the first to sail through the Northeast passage on the Vega expedition.
Our cairn building initative was naturally also motivated by this, following up a nice tradition with 100 years intervals.
We do hope the cairn will still be standing when we come back next year. This is the biggest cairn I have ever built using this tecknique. We hope for the best and we are humble. We do hope the people of Cambridge Bay will receive this initiative well and that it can be a physical evidence of unity and friendship among us all.
jw

Cairn just done.
photo by lars n

The cairn building process was a major team effort.
photo by lars n

The Cairn is placed just up the beach from where Maud has rested for the last 80 years.
photo by jw

Hide and seek – got you.
photo by jw

thanks to Bjørn
jw

MAUD TALK AND FEAST

admin — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:07:20 +0000

Last night the Maud Returns Home team arranged for a talk on Amundsen, Maud and our project plans in the community hall for 200 people. Afterwards we served Arctic char chowder and Banik, some sort of local bread. We had good help from local people cooking and baking and everybody seem to enjoy themselves and we can really say the same thing on our behalf.
The people of Cambridge Bay are open minded and they always have a smile to share.
The weather has turned colder the last days and we have had snow in the air, reminding us about the reality of life up here in the arctic.
On the pracical side we are in good progress and we are busy building a memorial carn and also clearing the area around Maud, to have more easy access next year for strapping Maud before the lifting operation.
The Norwegian Documentary Film team is busy collecting material and yesterday a team from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) arrived and they will follow us during our last week here in Cambridge Bay.

A good crowd came to listen and look at old and new Maud pictures and film cuts and enjoyed the Fish soup on local Actic char (røye) offered by the Maud Project Group. Thanks again to Tandberg Eiendom.
photo jw

Local supporters busy serving showder and drinks. Thanks to them and the soup was delicious, and the Banik too.
photo jw

Three young ladies seem to enjoy themselves at the Maud feast.
photo jw

Dreaming about old polar heroes.
photo jw

On the other side of the bay old Maud is quietly resting in silence while a new cairn is slowly growing on its landside.
photo jw

CB-BLOG: MEETING THE MAYOR OF CAMBRIDGE BAY

admin — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 22:16:42 +0000

This morning we had a nice meeting with the Mayor of Cambrdige Bay, Jeannie Ehaloak. She was very positive about our project plans and wished us all the best of luck in making our plans come through.
We informed her about the project status and gave her some details on where we are in the process of preparing for next year salvage operation and also in the documenting process.
We also brought up that we hope Cambridge Bay and Asker can build some good connections for the future to come, maybe as friendship communities. Lets hope for that.
We also discussed plans for a small Maud-feast in the community hall on first coming wednesday where we hope to show some new film material and pictures of Maud where she lies today, half submerged across the bay from the village.

The Mayor of Cambridge Bay, Jeannie Ehaloak, surrounded by Bjørn and Jan from the Maud Team.
photo hilde s

We are being followed up (very) closely these days by the Doc-filmteam.
photo hilde s

CB-BLOG: A SUNDAY WALK

admin — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 06:07:16 +0000

Its good to get out of town sometimes and get the daily routines a bit in perspective, so today we went for a walk and got a good bit of fresh air. The weather is getting a bit cooler these days and the temperature is dropping to below zero during the night, reminding us that the summer is short here and the time we have to play around in and out of water is limited to a maximum of two months during the summer season.

No fear of claustrofobia in the outskirts of Cambridge Bay.
photo jw

Arctic char being dried.
photo jw

Lunchtime conversation between Bjørn (Maud-team) and Lars (doc-film photographer)
photo jw

Stone friendly as I am I could not resist lifting up a big flat stone and underneath appeared a whole big happy family of well fed lemmings. Big surprice for us and probably also for them.
photo jw

Love
photo jw

Cambridge Bay from across the .. bay.
photo jw

CB-BLOG: DOCUMENTARY FILM ON MAUD PROJECT

admin — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:07:55 +0000

Skofteland Film, Norway have taken on the great challenge to produce a documentary film on the Maud Returns Home project. The first shootings are now being done i Cambridge Bay and Hilde Skofteland (director) and Lars Nilssen (photographer) are following us around from day to day. We have great expectations for this film that will follow the whole process of preparations and of course next years salvage operation.
The last couple of days we have spent in and out of the water,trying also to arrange for a public presentation of our project status and also we have planned a meeting next week with the mayor of Cambridge Bay, just to keep everyone updated on our project status.
I must say again that we experience great support and people of CB are very positive in general. It is a pleasure to spend time i Cambridge Bay.

Last view of the landcrew before sinking into the wet element for more submarine explorations of the old ship and its environment.
photo: jan w

The aft part of Maud on port side.
photo: jan w

This film-screenshot illustrates well how the main part of the Maud lower hull is in mint condition. From above the ship looks pretty worn and torn, but when coming down and underneath it all looks very different and confident.
photo: jan w

A closeup picture of a solid Maud nail produced in Vollen nearly 100 years ago.
photo: jan w

The maud skyline, the part exposed to the air all year seem nearly unchanged from pictures taken in the early 1990´s. It is the area from the sea surface aprox 2 meters down, exposed to the tearing from the winter ice, that really gets beaten and eaten slowly up.
photo: jan w

Maud-team key person Bjørn fishing for lunch at the Northwest Passage oceanfront, well covered by the doc-film team. Bjørn claims (with a wide smile) that he has lost 7kg allready since arrival CB.
photo: jan w

CB-BLOG: CAIRN BUILDING IN CAMBRIDGE BAY

admin — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 06:13:56 +0000

Amundsen and his crew built several cairns during their expeditions over the years, so we felt it was relevant to start the process of building one close to where Maud has spent the last 80 years. Working with stones is a good process and despite being hard physical work it really makes your head stop turning.
During the last week Bjørn and I had found good routines for the days but after the doc-film team with Hilde and Lars arrived we had to start all over again. Then it is good to have a cairn to build. The stones gradually take over the attention and soon the mind is there, present, and nowhere else. So a cairn to me is more than just a pile of stones.
We will probably spend a couple of weeks, on and off, erecting the cairn and maybe we will ask for some help from the locals to pick some nice flat stones.
Beside that we had one dive today and I did some experimentation with Maud macro photography. I wish to get closer to it all. As close as I can get. New things appear when you go closer.
jan w

When wanting to build a cairn, you need to pick the stones. Bjørn is a good man for stone picking, and many other things too.
photo: jan w

Preparing for building a Maud memorial cairn
photo: bjørn m

Tiny jellyfish paints its own pattern close to Maud
photo: jan w

A fisheye watching over the old ship.
photo: jan w

CB-BLOG: CAMBRIDGE BAY – STREETLIFE

admin — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:58:24 +0000

Busy days in Cambridge Bay and its surroundings. we spend most of the time on the beach around Maud, diving, filming or photographing and speaking with the local people.
When in town most people we meet are very positive and in general there is a good atmosphere in Cambridge Bay.

Kayaq Kid with one foot in past and the other in future. Where are you heading?

Streets are dusty in downtown Cambridge Bay during an ultra short summer season.

An ATV seem to be a favourite mean of transport for people at all ages in CB.

The snowmobile is stranded for a short period when the snow and ice is gone.

The nature is always next door in Cambridge Bay.

all photoes: jan w

CB-BLOG: MAUD ANCHOR FOUND

admin — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 02:12:57 +0000

Second day in the water became a milestone for our project as we detected the old anchor of Maud. Thanks to the support and advices from Hans Vrålstad from Norway and John Rodgers from Yukon,Canada who both dived Maud more than 20 years ago, I was able to locate the anchor yesterday with great ease. It´s funny how easy things can be done when preparations are good. I must say we felt quite happy to find the anchor as Dag Leslie and I spent two full days last year looking for the anchor, but in the wrong places.
After spending a good day at the beach we normally go for some charfishing to have fresh food for supper. It is great fun to land a 1,5kg arctic char and eat it one hour later. Our philosophy is simple, “catch and eat”. By the way, I have stopped believing in carbon fibre, after my new bought fishingrod broke when I landed a fish last night. Luckily I brought my old (xxl 299,-kr) fiberglass rod, so no need for panic – yet.
There is no bad luck Amundsen used to say – only bad preparations. Or actually he said; There is nothing called luck, only good preparations.

There it is. Mauds anchor. Resting on the seabed at the same place for the last good 80 years.
Time is a strange matter.

Helen Tologanak is a local enthusiast and keen supporter of our MRH project.

CB-BLOG: FIRST DAY AND A GOOD CATCH

admin — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 05:55:56 +0000

First dive this morning was a straight forward happening, doing some general overall filming of the Maud getting used to the environment and looking for changes since last year. The ship looks very much the same as before and that is for sure good news. Lets hope for the same also next summer when we arrive for the salvage operation.
During the second dive we lifted some grand old planks from the seabed, by the use of air. It worked quite well and we landed two major planks of 2″x 6″, 10 meter each. The planks seem to be in excellent conditions after 80 years submerged in the arctic water.
jan w

Oak plank resting at seabed.

Two planks landed.

Hard as a rock.

Maudfish: Exotic and colorful among old planks of oak.

CB-BLOG: SUNNY ARRIVAL AND MAUD IS STILL GOOD LOOKING

admin — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 23:00:18 +0000

We have arrived in Cambridge Bay fit and well and our 4 pieces of jam packed luggage is still with us after two days of travelling and it is always a nervous moment everytime we arrive for a new baggage pick up. The weather in CamBay is brilliant, clear blue sky and a light fresh breeze from the north east.

I just woke up after some good hours of sleep 8 hours behind Norway. Yesterday after arrival we spent the day and evening unpacking all the equipment and we had a quick ride over to Maud and it all seems very similar to last year. My first observation was that the arctic water around Maud seemed more clear than last year, and from that moment I got extremely eager to get into the water and do some shooting. So that is our plan for today. Bjørn is still sleeping next door – but that will not last for much longer – time for action. I will soon update on our first day in the water.

4th. August 2012
jan w

The last three hours before landing in CamBay we fly straight north in Canada and the scenery is flat and full of small lakes. Its like a mantra.

Until arrival first time in CamBay I didnt believe a jet plane could touch down on a gravel runway. Now I know.

When we arrived at Maud last night I looked up at this bird over my head, and my first thought was: Is this Amundsen watching over us.. And my thought was confirmed by local Maud project supporter Helen, who told us that this bird is an obvious sign of Amundsens prescence. Well lets hope he is happy with our ambitious plan. After the bird I saw this hare and thought; well if that bird was Amundsen, who could this be? Any suggestions?

Well this is at least Bjørn, no doubt, watching over Maud for the first time.

SURVEY BLOG – CAMBRIDGE BAY 2012

Tomorrow we are heading for the North West and Cambridge Bay,Nunavut, Canada This year we are travelling to Cambridge Bay and the old lady Maud with a new approach. Last year we had no allowance from the Canadian government to bring the polar ship of Roald Amundsen back home to Norway. This year we have been issued an official clearance after a long process of applying for and Export Permit.

So our first priority apart from making further studies of the ship itself is to meet the local people of Cambridge Bay again and further build that good relationship we felt we had began to develop during our stay last year. We wish to meet the Elders, the youngs and all those who have an interest for what we are planning to do and also to meet up with the local authorities to discuss our plans and our thoughts on how to end up not leaving Cambridge Bay next year making them feel that they have lost something. We wish and hope to make people feel they are part of a positive process that will benefit everyone, not only the norwegians who will finally see the old ship of Amundsen come back to Vollen after nearly 100 years since it departed in 1918.

We have a great challenge in front of us. We are a small group and we have several tasks to deal with while spending the coming month of August in Cambridge Bay. I will do my best to bring across through this blog how we spend our days and give the reader glimpses of how it all comes along.

Bjørn Myrann my long time friend and right hand in all kind of projects I have dealt with over the years is travelling with me this year and we will also have a Norwegian Documentary Film group with us for most of the period we are here. Tomorrow we are leaving Norway for a long trip and bags are filled with lots of stuff. Lets see how it all gets along.

jan wanggaard, 1st august 2012

Practicing cairnbuilding before departure Canada. One big beech three from the garden.
photo: jan w

MRH in Cambridge Bay 2012

admin — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:50:18 +0000

The summer season in Cambridge Bay is even shorter than what we are used to up in the northern part of Norway. An average of two short months without ice in the summer asks us to be focused and rational when planning for the Maud salvage operation next year.
This summer the Maud Returns Home Project Group are again intending to spend most of August in Cambridge Bay. We wish, just like previous year, to do further identification of the old polar ship, to build a best possible understanding of how we shall approach the challenging task of raising the Maud out of the arctic water next year.
This will include more detailed assessments of the state of the ship, taking samples for analysis as well as more detailed documentation with film and photography.
Further, this year we will continue to communicate our project plans and aim to build a basis for a long lasting relationship with the local people of Cambridge Bay. We also wish to discuss with the community how we can, in a best possible way create some kind of memorial object, close to where Maud (Baymaud) has spend a good part of the last 100 years. We do have some ideas in this respect.
The Maud Returns Home Project Group will also have a documentary film team following us this year in Cambridge Bay. More a about this in a separate NEWS.

Cairn erected by the Maud crew in the memory of Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld, first man to cross the NorthEast Passage in 1878.

Master thesis on Maud Museum lighting

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:21:43 +0000

Hege Homb Dedichen, graduate student in Design at Oslo National Acadamy of The Arts, recently won “Statsbyggs” student award for excellent interior architecture”.
Dedichen have in her master thesis used the polarship Maud, and made a suggestion for a
future museum for the ship – after its return to Norway. The thesis is focused on how
daylight can function as a narrative tool to tell a story, and in this case – the story of Maud.
Dedichen has used the Boat Hall (Båthallen) at the Norwegian Maritime Museum, where she basically wish to use the existing architecture as a basis. She imagines the hull placed inside the hall, immersed in the room, surrounded by an atmosphere reminiscent of the ice – some what alike what surrounds Maud today.
The jury say that “the candidate have through their thorough analysis and modeling discussed the daylights essential feature of the architecture, and has studied how the light can be used as a narrative tool without the main feature being ousted”.

Well done Hege. This was a very valuable input for us in the challenging process towards defining a future presentation environment for Maud. Hege has presented Maud in a compact environment where the old ship is positioned very much similar to how it is resting on the seabed in Cambridge Bay today, and the museum main floor is leveled with the existing waterline of the half submerged ship. This creates an interesting effect where the viewer can become very close up and “feel” intimate with the old Lady. Still we have a clear intention to bring Maud back home to Vollen where she was built nearly 100years ago and curiuos enough Hege did not know of our plans when she made the basis for her theses. We do find her work inspiring and also extremly nice. JW

Award winners:
Hege Homb Dedichen (left) and Malin Skjelland Eriksen (right) with development director May Balkøy from Statsbygg. Photo: Statsbygg

Download the thesis: “Dagslys som Narrativt Virkemiddel: Polarskipet Maud i Nytt Lys” (Norwegian pdf)

THINGS ARE MOVING

admin — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:58:01 +0000

The last few months after having finally received a formal go ahead from the Canadian Cultural Heritage Authorities to bring “Maud” out of Canada and back to Vollen and Norway, we have again been able to focus on the real object of the Maud Returns Home initiative, namely to organize a repatriation of the old Polarship of Roald Amundsen. This is modestly speaking a challenging task.

Allready in the autum of 2010 we started the process of investigating the possibility of bringing “Maud” finally back home nearly 100 years after her departure from Norway in the summer of 1918. Now in the summer of 2012 we are in the middle of the process of planning the Maud Returns Home rescue expedition of 2013. This will physically involve two major elements, which will be a submersible barge for the salvage operation and the home transport as well as a tugboat that will pull the barge first from Norway to Canada, and then the return trip from Cambridge Bay all the way to Norway with “Maud” on top of the barge. This is a trip of around 7000km in challenging conditions.
A few weeks ago we did a first little physical action by moving the barge from the westcoast of Norway to the Oslo area where we will have the “basecamp” for our expedition preparations over the next 12 months. The barge performed very well on the three days journey behind the tugboat “Chanko” which also possibly can be the tug to be used for the expedition next year.

“Jensen” the raft, heading into the open ocean for the first time – out og Haugesund on the westcoast of Norway bound for Asker.

The raft called “Jensen” and the tug “Chanko” ancored in Asker after the three days trip from the west coast of Norway. All worked well.

a small celebration

admin — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 09:17:46 +0000

As we now have received a final go ahead from the Canadian Government for our plans to repatriate Maud back to her birthplace in Vollen, Norway, we wish to celebrate this today in our Project Office in Asker with cake and cava.
Everyone are invited and we will also give a little update on status right now and indicate where we are heading in the time to come.
We have a big challenge in front of us and we are extremely happy to be able to proceed.
So welcome at 2pm in Smuget 1, Asker, today 24th of March 2012
- if you are around

Maud Returns Home – Newspaper

admin — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:27:30 +0000

We are pleased to present a net-version of our recent newspaper that was produced in connection with the Export Permit Review Board Hearing in Ottawa on March 15th. For those who can not drop into our Project Office in Asker and get a real paper version enjoy reading it on the net.

Click Picture of Queen Maud below to read the paper

Great News: Review board opens for export permit

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:52:07 +0000

Great News 16th of March 2012:

The Review Board have directed the Canada Border Services Agency to issue an Export Permit upon our request.

This is great news for us and we can now go ahead making plans and prepare ourself for the great challenge to finally bring Maud home. First we wish to thank everyone who have supported us in the process of reaching this goal to be issued an export permit for Maud. And we also appreciate very much the Reviewboard´s decition to support and trust our plans for a repatriation of Amundsens famous Polarship. Its a great responsibility we now take on and we will work hard to make this project something everyone can be proud of at the end of the day both in Canada and Norway.

jan wanggaard
project manager
MAUD RETURNS HOME

Good press follow up before Hearing in Ottawa

admin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:18:16 +0000

We are happy to experience a good following up from the Canadian press the last days now before the hearing on Thursday with the Canadian Cultural Property Review Board. Let us hope for a hearing in good spirit and an open constructive dialogue with regards to the future for Roald Amundsens polar ship Maud.

the globe and mail

Wednesday night we will make a lecture a the Canadian Nordic Society at 7.30 pm.

CNS One Pager Speaker Event March 2012 v3

MAUD EXPORT PERMIT APPEAL HEARING

admin — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:24:29 +0000

As we now are getting close to the appeal hearing for the Export Permit Refusal for Amundsen’s polar ship Maud, we have arrived here in the capital of Ottawa to attend in person on thursday next week, and promote our project. We do hope the Government of Canada can bring this case to a solution in our favour, but it might well be that the bureaucracy wish to further complicate the matters. No other concrete initiative exists today to save Maud from a slow deterioration in the high Arctic of Nunavut, Canada other than the one of Maud Returns Home, and most people in Canada and Norway support our initiative financed by Tandberg Eiendom in Asker, who wish to build a House of Maud in Vollen, to preserve this historic ship for future generations to come.

Norway will look after heritage ship Maud

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:48:21 +0000

Just to clarify a bit of Arctic maritime history. Roald Amundsen and his small crew of six traversed the Northwest Passage in 1903-1906, making their 45-ton Gjoa the first to ever come through. Little Gjoa now rests, fully restored, in the Norwegian Maritime Museum in Bygdoynesveien, west of Oslo.

MAUD RETURNS HOME

IGLO LIFE

MAUD: ICE AND OAK

MAUD DOWN UNDER

MOVING FORWARD

VINTER DOCUMENTATION OF MAUD

MAUD SURVEY 2012 – SUM UP

THE MAUD CAIRN

MAUD TALK AND FEAST

CB-BLOG: MEETING THE MAYOR OF CAMBRIDGE BAY

CB-BLOG: A SUNDAY WALK

CB-BLOG: DOCUMENTARY FILM ON MAUD PROJECT

CB-BLOG: CAIRN BUILDING IN CAMBRIDGE BAY

CB-BLOG: CAMBRIDGE BAY – STREETLIFE

CB-BLOG: MAUD ANCHOR FOUND

CB-BLOG: FIRST DAY AND A GOOD CATCH

CB-BLOG: SUNNY ARRIVAL AND MAUD IS STILL GOOD LOOKING

MRH in Cambridge Bay 2012

Master thesis on Maud Museum lighting

THINGS ARE MOVING

a small celebration

Maud Returns Home – Newspaper

Great News: Review board opens for export permit

Good press follow up before Hearing in Ottawa

MAUD EXPORT PERMIT APPEAL HEARING

Norway will look after heritage ship Maud

Amundsen’s ship may stay in Nunavut

Massiv støtte fra canadiske lesere

Canadians could have shot at buying explorer Roald Amundsen’s ship, Maud

Feds deny export permit for Arctic shipwreck

Ottawa nixes export permit for Maud

OTTAWA DENIES NORWEGIANS PASSAGE FOR MAUD

Canadians may see a chance to buy back Amundsen’s Maud

Norske Maud får ikke forlate Canada

EXPORT PERMIT – NOTICE OF REFUSAL

Nekter eksporttillatelse

EXPORT PERMIT APPLICATION – IS HANDED IN

MAUD SURVEY 2011 – CONCLUSION

The Maud: From Nunavut to Norway?

Søker eksporttillatelse for Maud

Norway Seeks to Reclaim South Pole Explorer’s Shipwreck

Norway Wants Amundsen’s Ship Back

Vil hente nasjonalklenodium hjem fra Canada

A Maud-est Proposal

80 ans après son naufrage, le Maud d’Amundsen pourrait revenir en Norvège

Norwegians survey sunken ship in Canada

MAUD SURVEY IN CAMBRIDGE BAY, CANADA 2011

Norwegians win converts for removing the Maud from Nunavut

Kampen om Maud

Norway, Nunavut clash over shipwreck

Radio interview: Maud’s Fate?

If we won’t save our Arctic heritage, let the Norwegians do it

Norwegian-Canadian dispute over Roald Amundsen ship

CBC radio interview – “tug of war?” – Jan Wanggaard

The Globe and Mail

BAYMAUD AND CAMBRIDGE BAY

TRANSFER OF MAUD OWNERSHIP

Cambridge Bay fights to keep shipwreck

Canadians fight proposal to move famed Arctic exploration ship Maud – Alaska Dispatch

Arctic shipwreck inflames passions in Norway and Canada

Amundsen’s ‘Maud’ to be raised from Northwest Passage seafloor

GROWING INTEREST FROM CANADA

Norwegian group seeks Amundsen’s ship from Canada

Maud-dykker: – Det haster å redde «Maud» før den raser fra hverandre

Plans to bring Amundsen’s Maud from Nunavut to Norway move ahead

Norway wants Amundsen’s Maud back from Nunavut

WEBPAGE – MAUD RETURN HOME

Norwegians want Amundsen ship Maud back from Nunavut

- Nesten stum

Stor entusiasme for kjempeprosjektet som skal bringe polarskuta Maud til kystkultursenteret på Vollen i Asker

Intervju i “Lang Lunsj”- Radio Østlandssendingen

Maud-retur vekker begeistring i hele Norge

- Vil heve polarskuta Maud og få henne hjem

Blandede følelser rundt Maud-museet

Slik kan Maud-museet i Vollen bli seende ut

- Slik kan Maud-museet i Asker bli

- Maud vil gjøre Vollen komplett

- Bringer Maud tilbake til Vollen

THE MAUDMUSEUM – ARCHITECT PROPOSALS

- En fantastisk utfordring å få hente «Maud» hjem