MAUD SURVEY 2012 – SUM UP
26 August 2012 » Uncategorized | respond
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
