SUPPLY SHIPS HELD UP
Ice In Kainan Bay Rock-hard ice in Kainan Bay has delayed unloading from supply ships which arrived at Little America base on Saturday afternoon, according to ■ United States Navy news release in Christchurch yesterday. Two icebreakers, the Glacier and the Atka, and demolition teams using nearly a ton of high explosive, have failed to dent the 10-feet thick, sheet of ice which extends nearly three miles over the sea from the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf.
The release says that stormy seas and north winds have halted further attempts to break through. If further efforts fail when the wind shifts cargo may have to be unloaded on the rim of the frozen sea.
Propeller Damaged Breaking out an ice harbour for the supply ships has also been difficult because the Glacier dropped a blade from its port propeller when steaming south through the ice pack last month. The ships are attempting to get in as far as a tidal crack which slits the bay ice approximately half a mile out from the 50ft high barrier. The crack will have to be spanned by an aluminium bridge for. 35-ton tractors to haul 20-ton sleds across if it is necessary to unload on the sea ice rim. <>nce unloading starts, the work should be finished in 10 days.
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Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28451, 4 December 1957, Page 14
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221SUPPLY SHIPS HELD UP Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28451, 4 December 1957, Page 14
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