Ice likely to thwart final Greenpeace bid

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 1

Ice likely to thwart final Greenpeace bid

Pack ice compacting again seems certain to thwart a final attempt by the Greenpeace Antarctic expedition to land equipment for a base camp at Ross Island. The Greenpeace and her crew of 34 made a dash back to the area from the Bay of Whales late on Friday after reports that pack > ice-Jn McMurdo SoundwajftMasening. ■ ■ They had hoped to be able to unload materials, equipment, and food at Cape Evans to give the expedition a head start in building a base camp when it returns next summer. The expedition’s co-or-

dinator, Mr Peter Wilkinson, speaking by satellite telephone from the ship last evening, said: “Our chances of getting any gear ashore don’t look good. “It’s true that the ice in McMurdo Sound and Cape Evans is breaking up, but it’s re-forming and making a solid band round the entrance to the sound. ..; . ' "It t doesn’t look as* - there’s-any chance of us getting through,” he said. The captain of the tug Greenpeace, Mr Peter Bouquet, had made one helicopter flight over the ice and would look again early this morning before a final decision was made on trying to get through.

Mr Wilkinson said they were well aware of the danger of finding a passage only to have ice tighten, and trap them in the sound. “Peter Bouquet has been cautious and prudent in his decisions until now,” said Mr Wilkinson. “We are all very disappointed but we will not try to influence his decision. : 'Whatever he says.’we'wiil i accept it; ' - J “He has the responsibil- > ity of getting back with people and ship intact, so s he’s not going to take any undue risks at this stage,” he said. Greenpeace has been warned by the United States authorities at

McMurdo Station that its search and rescue capabilities are depleted and will be non-existent from February 12 when the Americans pull out before winter sets in. 1 Everyone on board was feeling “a bit down,”, said Mr Wilkinson, but it had been a trip full of ups arid ■ downs :. and they.;had., learnt to be philosophical? ... "It has been a 'pritticu- '* ■ larly bad year for ice. We’ve been beaten by nature, that’s all,” he said. “But we have been able to collect a tremendous amount of information and we’ll be back next year.”