Day 41: 10 February 2019

Agulhas II,  05.24 hours GMT.   Ice Pilot Freddie Ligthelm over ship’s intercom:

‘Good Morning from the Bridge.  This is to say we have reached the Endurance sinking position.  Lekker Lekker Lekker [Afrikaans for “Nice, Nice, Nice”]’

                                   *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *

All day yesterday we were wedged in thick ice 19 miles from the site.  At 00.36 hours today, 10 February 2019, we were able to break the grip of the ice and resume our passage to the Endurance search area. 

At 05.24 GMT  we arrived at the last position recorded by the Captain of the Endurance, Frank Worsley:  Latitude 68⁰  39’ S;  Longitude 52⁰  26’  W. 

No wind, overcast, good visibility, multi-year ice , water depth 3038 meters.

A CTD probe is currently being undertaken to determine water temperature and conductivity, information that is necessary for AUV operations.  The underwater search, which will be conducted by AUV 7,  will begin after 12.00 hours.  Its mission will take about 45 hours.