M/V American Tern in McMurdo by Ella Derbyshire

Nikon D80's

Here you see the M/V American Tern and the icebreaker Odin in McMurdo Sound. The arrival of the supply ship near the end of summer is an exciting event. The entire community will be involved in offloading supplies for McMurdo and other Antarctic Stations. Cargo can be anything from heavy equipment to scientific instruments to cleaning supplies. Ships bring fuel for the power plant and food for the galley. Although planes carry a good deal of cargo to Antarctica, ships are the least expensive way for cargo to get here.

Most of the cargo from this ship will stay in McMurdo, which is America's largest Antarctic statation. The rest will find be sent inland by plane or overland traverse to destinations such as the South Pole, Siple Dome, WAIS Divide and AGAP.

The icebreaker Odin is off shore in the distance. The Odin cleared the way for the Antarctic Tern, and it will linger by Ross Island until the cargo ship has left.

When the American Tern leaves, it will carry retrograde cargo back to the United States. This will include old vehicles, pieces of demolished buildings, obsolete equipment and quite a bit of everyday trash which has been carefully sorted for recycling.

The 17 images of this panorama were photographed with a Nikon D80 and stitched with Autopano Pro.