New Zealand: Port of Bluff – Departing for Antarctica

Mid December last year I departed on a 3 week voyage toward East Antarctic – the one below New Zealand. The departure point – Bluff – at the southernmost tip of New Zealand. The ship – Russian MV Akademik Shokalskiy – ice-strengthen expedition vessel, originally built for oceanographic research in the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the former USSR in late 80’s. It’s a relatively small ship with only 50 passengers and 20 crew. Perfect weather at departure and off we go!