SST: June 19, 2009
19 June 2009
Enroute Reykjavik to Belfast
NOON POSITION REPORT – 19 JUNE 2009
T/S EMPIRE STATE KKFW
LAT: 66° – 52.6’ N LONG: 023° – 24.4’ W
COURSE: 073°
DIST BY OBS: 219.9 NM/ 242.5 NM
ENGINE DISTANCE: 236.4/ 259
SLIP: 6.97/6.37
LENGTH OF DAY: 24 HRS/ 26 HRS
AVE SPEED: 9.16 KTS/ 9.3 KTS
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 235 BBLS/ 257 BBLS
FUEL ROB: 9360 BBLS
MDO ROB: 599 BBLS
POTABLE WATER ROB: 711 T
DISTILLED WATER ROB: 223 T
SEA STATE: NE/2
WIND: E/2
NEXT PORT: Belfast, No. Ireland
DIST TO GO: 1276 NM
ETA : 0100 LT/ 25 JUNE 2009
Sailing through the Realm of the Polar Bear
We crossed the Arctic Circle early this morning and entered "the Realm of
the Polar Bear" or what is scientifically called The Frigid Zone. There
have been no Polar Bear sightings yet, or for that matter, the icebergs
they float on. We'll keep a wary eye out for both.
The dictionary defines the Circle as "an imaginary line drawn parallel to
the equator, at 23 degrees 28' south of the North Pole". It is the limit
of the circumpolar sun. We are traversing the upper coast of Iceland,
heading west into the Norwegian Sea. The snow covered mountains of
Iceland are still visible off the starboard side as we sail along at a
leisurely 8.5 knots.
The Frigid Zone is an apt name. It is chilly out there today, somewhere
in the upper 30's. The water temperature is about 40 degrees. Unfortunately,
the ship hasn't adjusted to the rapid drop in temperature and parts of the
ship have been very cool, while others are warmer; that is what happens
without heating zones.
It was bright and sunny almost the whole night last night. We had about
22.5 hours of daylight. Midnight looked as if it were 2:00 in the
afternoon. Deck cadets could realistically do a celestial day’s work all day;
some asked if they could get multiple days credit for all of this celestial.
Those of us who have crossed the Circle for the first time are now
eligible to join the “Order of the Bluenose”, an honorary organization of
sailors who have crossed the line at least once. Perhaps King Neptune
will show up sometime before we reach our next port to bestow this title
on all aboard and paint our noses blue. We will see. I am not sure what
the Captain has in mind.
Richard Delbango
Ship’s Librarian
