Landed at the Shelf Ice Edge

Tuesday, 18thDecember 2007: Since we left Atka Bay two days ago, Polarstern tried to find a way to a special spot at the shelf-ice edge. This spot was localized by helicopter and is the only area in reach where there is water reaching the edge. We are here now but it was not easy.
Polarstern followed a track an iceberg had cut through heavy pack ice.
This track was covered by dense "porridge" ice and we had to ram using all four engines. We crossed an iceberg cemetery and the number if icebergs and the various forms were amazing!
Finally we reached the polynia we had looked for and were able to do some station work using the "Rauschert"-Dredge yesterday while waiting for people from Neumayer. Today we landed at the edge and pumping of the fuel to tank containers started.