Of course all that is history. Yes? Nowadays the business aspects have given way to simple rent-seeking from a coterie of academics and NGOs who exist in unholy alliance with Government. At the expense of the taxpayer.
I promised I would get back to the fiasco on ice of the early new year. Things have started to be 'costed' and the taxpayer is once again going to be well out of pocket. Some will be giggling like the loons they are (their entire salary and perks as well as taxes are paid for by real taxpayers) and other more rational folk who work productively to pay taxes with be spitting icicles.
It is close to home in more ways than one. Stand on the Tavern roof and you can see the Capital of Antarctica in Kingston. (Well, on tip toe). The Climate Change wallahs congregate there, mixing with real scientists like crows wandering in a penguin colony.
Jo Nova came by to explain:
http://joannenova.com.au/2014/01/australian-taxpayers-will-pay-400000-cost-for-climate-scientists-ship-stuck-in-ice-total-cost-millions/
Australian taxpayers will pay $400,000 cost for climate scientist’s ship stuck in ice. Total cost “millions”.
The saga just keeps going. The Chinese Icebreaker sent to rescue the Russian ship - Remember the Russian ship? It is still there - also became stuck, and has asked for help so the Aurora Australis with 52 extra passengers rescued from the Russian Charter boat had to stay nearby to help.The Aurora is based in Hobart. A well known sight in the harbour.
Twenty two Russian sailors were trapped on board the Russian boat — the Akademik Sholaskiy.
The other scientists in Antarctica still don’t have their equipment.
Costs for everyone involved are continuing to rise. Though there is a free-for-all on social media…
But seriously, from The Australian by Graham Lloyd:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/hit-for-ice-rescue-revealed/story-fn59nm2j-1226794662899#
TAXPAYERS will foot a $400,000 bill for the rescue of a group of climate scientists, tourists and journalists from a stranded Russian research vessel – an operation that has
blown the contingency budget of Australia’s Antarctic program
and disrupted its scientific work.
The Antarctic Division in Hobart said it was revising plans and considering airlifting urgently needed scientific equipment that could not be unloaded from Aurora Australis before the ship was diverted from the Casey base to rescue the novice ice explorers just before Christmas
The climate scientists and passengers aren’t free yet, their boat is waiting around to help the Chinese icebreaker.
The rescue bill continued to mount yesterday as the return of the Aurora Australis to Casey base was delayed after the Chinese vessel Xue Long notified rescue authorities it had concerns about its ability to move back into open water due to heavy ice.
The Australian icebreaker was put on standby and ordered to remain in open water as a precautionary measure.
As usual, under the Treaty of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), ships must respond to a distress message, and the costs are a “matter for the ship owners after the event… These can include fuel costs, crew costs and loss of revenue.”
Ultimately the costs could be millions:
In a debriefing on the rescue mission, Australian Maritime Safety Authority general manager John Young said the ships involved in the rescue would each be responsible for their own costs.
The costs, which would run to millions of dollars, could ultimately result in legal action between the ships’ insurance companies and the owners of the stranded Russian research vessel that sparked the rescue.
I wonder what the fine print says on the agreement between the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and the Russian Charter boat?And all this for what, you may wonder.?
We will let the Great Socialist of yesteryear say just what it was all about. The ice was blue and so were some of his words.
The taxpayers' words have not been sought.
There are going to be quite a few chucked off the gravy boat, hopefully.
As for you. Go off the grid.
Seek the Monastery.
Pax
Australia seems to pick up the nautical pieces all the time. There was that Abby Sunderland, I seem to recall.
ReplyDeleteAll those global warming scientists made fools of themselves while countries scrambled to save their stupid asses. They get paid regardless. Evidently they took some readings while they were stranded, but gee...do you think they figured it out? That global warming is NOT happening? Naw. (rim shot)
ReplyDeleteI understand that no asses or any other animals were harmed during the exercise. There were no asses on the rescue manifest either. But, your point is taken.
ReplyDeleteThe sad thing about it is that climate change is the new religion. Question their 'facts' and you'll be branded a heretic. The companies being worst impacted by these zealots have their hands tied because any studies they fund to show how their industries are not harming the environment the studies are 'tainted' because the funding comes with a vested interest.
ReplyDeleteDon't these climate scientists who proclaim "climate change is real, give me millions more so I can study it more" have just as much if not more of an interest since the industries being stifled by the climate change religion are at least self sustaining. The climate change zealots expect taxpayers to foot the bill for their little pet projects.
Indeed. Have a cool drink. I can put some ice in it.
Delete