Datum: | 28.07.2024 |
Position: | 78°14.6’ N - 015°32.5’ E |
Wind: | W9 |
Wetter: | Partly cloudy |
Lufttemperatur: | +7 |
Finally! The day had come; it was time for us to board our new home for our newly starting expedition, m/v Ortelius! We arrived at the port in Longyearbyen with calm waters. Some of us had only landed a few hours before, and now we were about to start our adventure onboard M/V Ortelius. The Expedition Team and Hotel Staff had helpfully brought our luggage aboard and taken it to our cabins earlier in the day. All that remained was for us to take a few photos of m/v Ortelius while we made our way up the gangway.
We were warmly welcomed by all the crew and staff who assisted us in finding our cabins. With some time left, we explored the ship, got our bearings, and grabbed a tea or coffee in the bar. Once everyone was onboard, it was time for the mandatory ship safety video and briefing presented by expedition leader Adam and chief officer Romanas. We were given all the information we needed, such as moving safely around the ship, the things we could and could not do, and how to put on our emergency life jackets. Having learned this, it was then time for an abandon ship drill, so after hearing the seven short and one long blast of the ship’s horn, we went to our cabins, got our lifejackets, and went to our muster station in the bar. Then, we were led to our lifeboats so we would know where to go in case of a real emergency.
After the drill, we headed to the bar, where hotel manager Vova and expedition leader Adam gave a welcome. With briefing formalities concluded, it was time to join Captain Per in the bar to raise a glass in celebration of the voyage. Then, it was time for our first evening meal, with a delicious buffet selection provided by Chef Heinz and his galley team and served by our friendly dining room staff. After dinner, we were given our muck boots, which we would use for going ashore; they were comfortable but also, very importantly, waterproof for our wet Zodiac landings!
After a long day of travel for most of us, it was time for bed to get some rest. However, the day was not over yet. A blue whale was spotted around 9! The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever lived that we currently know of, and quite rare to see. It was quite a spectacular sight! With all this excitement, we ended our first day.