Note:   "PolarBird" was used for only the one trip in 1998 and ANARE helicopters from Mawson Base flew personnel and supplies to the vessel which came as close to the base as Pack Ice allowed.

For the 2000-2001 season "Polar Bird" was again chartered by Australia's Antarctic Division to make 5 supply trips to both sub-Antarctic and Antarctic bases. The first of these trips left Fremantle on the 8th of October 2000 to Heard Island where a major deployment was being made for the first time in many years.

A notable event was the use (for the first time in many years) of a pictorial Heard Island AAT datestamp.

Heard Island seen from afar.

Heard Island from the air.

Note: The above cover has been signed by Rod Ledingham who was the voyage leader in charge of the deployment to Heard Island.

The "Polar Bird" was at Heard Island from 19th October to 25th October 2000.

The picture at left shows Rod Ledingham autographing covers at Hobart prior to departing for Fremantle and Heard Island. Rod travelled  on board the "Polar Bird"  returning to Hobart on the same voyage.

Note: The above cover is identical to the cover listed as BIRD 2 but is autographed instead by Sandra Potter who was the Deputy Voyage leader.

This view shows Big Ben, the extinct Volcano which dominates Heard Island.

This view shows an accomodation building for Heard Island being airlifted on board ship in Australia.

Note: The above cover has the cachet as shown at left applied on the back of the envelope.

Shown at left is the back of the above Polarogramme. The "Polar Bird" deployed two AS350BA helicopters to the island. These helicopters only remained on the island until the 10th November when they were picked up by the "Aurora Australis" and returned to Fremantle.

The view at right shows the bridge on board "Polar Bird" when it had returned to Hobart in November 2000

Note: "Polar Bird" arrived at Hobart on 5th November 2000 so the Hobart Paquebot postmark has been wrongly applied with the previous days date (November 4th) still set.

This is the first usage of this datestamp we have seen. The postage stamp correctly used is a Norwegian stamp because "Polar Bird" is registered in Bergen in Norway.

Note: "Polar Bird" arrived at Casey Base as shown at right on the 26th November 2000 and remained in the area until the 19th of December 2000.

This was mainly because it was stuck in the ice.  It eventually freed itself and arrived back at Hobart to complete Voyage 3 on 26th December, 2000.

Note: this attractive polarogramme shows a typical Antarctic scene as around Casey Base.  Mail from the base is normally carried to the ship by helicopter especially early in the season when Casey Base is surrounded by fast ice as was the case this season. The item bears a helicopter mail cachet as well as a "Air Mail from CASEY Antarctica" airmail sticker.

At left we can see "Polar Bird" at Davis AAT Base in January, 2001.

The Chinese Zhong Shan Station is nearby and "Polar Bird" carried a number of Chinese Scientists and support staff for this Station as well as AAT staff for Davis Base.

Note: The above cover has a cachet at bottom left in English and Chinese from the 15 person Chinese team on board "Polar Bird".