Southern Barents Sea
Yesterday we awoke early in the Oslo hotel, eager to start our travels to the northern Norway community of Kirkenes. En route to the Oslo airport the buses were a bubble of discussions about what adventures we might have over the next days. Many of the group were seasoned Lindblad Expeditions travelers and many had been to polar regions on other trips. However, this would be a new experience to a relatively unvisited land and on a ship new to Lindblad Expeditions. Everyone was anticipating a very interesting and exciting voyage.
Arriving in Kirkenes we first had a marvelous lunch before exploring this small community perched near the border with the massive neighbor, Russia. Having traveled from various points over the last couple of days we were all very anxious to see the ship and start getting acquainted with the legendary icebreakers in the Russian fleet. But our impatience had to be controlled as the ship was being prepared for our arrival. Finally we arrived at the dock just outside of the main port facility. Awaiting us was the Kapitan Dranitsyn, its crew, and the familiar faces of the Arctic Team of naturalists hand picked for their knowledge and experience in the arctic.
To reach the remote archipelago of Franz Josef Land it was necessary to travel on a Russian flag vessel and one that can go through the pack ice. The Kapitan Dranitsyn would provide us with this opportunity. Built in 1980 in Finland, the ship operates as a working icebreaker during the winter months and accommodates intrepid guests during the summer months carrying them to the far reaches of the arctic. With a length of 133 m, width of 26.5 m, and draft of 8.5 m, it is rated as a 4100 ton vessel. Quite capable as an icebreaker, there are two hulls with the outer skin being 45 mm thick steel. Six powerful diesel electric engines can produce 22000 hp to break ice over 2.5 m thick. There also are a number of systems which allow the ship to make its way through the ice.
On our first day at sea we soon discovered the abilities and qualities of the ship. People became acquainted with the decks and how to move around the ship. We experienced a slow rolling motion as a stiff wind blew from the south giving a small boost to the ship already traveling at 17 kns. Our day was filled with activities including the beginning of the trip lecture series with talks by Jim Kelley on arctic geology and later Maria Gavrilo on seabirds of Franz Josef Land and the Barents Sea. A light drizzle graced the first afternoon and evening of the voyage.
Yesterday we awoke early in the Oslo hotel, eager to start our travels to the northern Norway community of Kirkenes. En route to the Oslo airport the buses were a bubble of discussions about what adventures we might have over the next days. Many of the group were seasoned Lindblad Expeditions travelers and many had been to polar regions on other trips. However, this would be a new experience to a relatively unvisited land and on a ship new to Lindblad Expeditions. Everyone was anticipating a very interesting and exciting voyage.
Arriving in Kirkenes we first had a marvelous lunch before exploring this small community perched near the border with the massive neighbor, Russia. Having traveled from various points over the last couple of days we were all very anxious to see the ship and start getting acquainted with the legendary icebreakers in the Russian fleet. But our impatience had to be controlled as the ship was being prepared for our arrival. Finally we arrived at the dock just outside of the main port facility. Awaiting us was the Kapitan Dranitsyn, its crew, and the familiar faces of the Arctic Team of naturalists hand picked for their knowledge and experience in the arctic.
To reach the remote archipelago of Franz Josef Land it was necessary to travel on a Russian flag vessel and one that can go through the pack ice. The Kapitan Dranitsyn would provide us with this opportunity. Built in 1980 in Finland, the ship operates as a working icebreaker during the winter months and accommodates intrepid guests during the summer months carrying them to the far reaches of the arctic. With a length of 133 m, width of 26.5 m, and draft of 8.5 m, it is rated as a 4100 ton vessel. Quite capable as an icebreaker, there are two hulls with the outer skin being 45 mm thick steel. Six powerful diesel electric engines can produce 22000 hp to break ice over 2.5 m thick. There also are a number of systems which allow the ship to make its way through the ice.
On our first day at sea we soon discovered the abilities and qualities of the ship. People became acquainted with the decks and how to move around the ship. We experienced a slow rolling motion as a stiff wind blew from the south giving a small boost to the ship already traveling at 17 kns. Our day was filled with activities including the beginning of the trip lecture series with talks by Jim Kelley on arctic geology and later Maria Gavrilo on seabirds of Franz Josef Land and the Barents Sea. A light drizzle graced the first afternoon and evening of the voyage.
