1 - Mobilising in Punta Arenas

Before setting sail from Punta Arenas in Chile, we had a few crucial days to mobilise. During this time, crew and scientists flew in from around the world to board the RRS James Cook. They moved into their cabins and got familiar with the ship and each other. The ship was also loaded with all the equipment that scientists and technicians had freighted out to Chile weeks ago. Provisions (water and food) for the next six weeks were also packed on to the ship.

This was also the last chance for scientists to buy any snacks and equipment that had been forgotten. Among the purchases were a lot of chocolate, a cafetiere, some Christmas-tree lights and a bag of carrots for snacking. The scientists also got the chance to dine on some ‘wild’ Chilean meat – beaver, hare, goose, guanaco (similar to llamas) and rhea.

Where is Punta Arenas?

View Punta Arenas in a larger map

A bird’s eye view of Punta Arenas

We got the lovely surprise of having the RRS James Cook  docked next to the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer  of the US Polar Sciences programme. It isn’t often that two world-class research ships are docked together!

The RRS James Cook  docked next to the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer