The following photos show the "Archangelgracht" in Lyttelton in February, 2001. This was her first visit to Lyttelton and her first American National Science Foundation charter as a supply ship for the US Antarctic Program.

These photos shows the vessels arrival from Melbourne, at dock in the inner harbour, on her trip to McMurdo base on Ross island in the Antarctic and on her return to Lyttelton to complete her first Antarctic supply trip. The photos taken during her Antarctic trip were kindly taken by her Captain or Master Pieter Kampstra and are exclusive to this web site.

To see and purchase philatelic covers from this voyage click here

The "Archangelgracht" arrived off Lyttelton Heads on the 1st February, 2001 and anchored there while waiting for a berth. She is shown at left with two cranes spread wide to aid balance while her engineer was pumping fuel and ballast between tanks.

This view shows "Archangelgracht" entering the outer harbour on 2nd February, 2001 having just passed an outgoing container vessel.

Proceeding up harbour

Passing Church Bay and Diamond Harbour.

Passing the Outer Mole

Entering Lyttelton Inner Harbour with tug in attendence

The above view shows her turning into her assigned berth with a tug in attendence

At right she gently comes alongside

Securely berthed in the inner harbour

Viewed from the hillside the "Archangelgracht" is seen in the middle of this panorama.

A closer view also taken from the hill

The "Archangelgracht" proudly wears her "Spliet" house colours on her funnel

The master of the "Archangelgracht" is Pieter Kampstra, a friendly 36 year old Dutchman shown here on his bridge.

2nd Officer, Joost Willem Vermeer shown at the chart table behind the bridge.

This view shows the gangway installed. The "Archangelgracht" left Lyttelton on the 9th February, 2001 bound for the Ross Sea and McMurdo.

Nearing the Ross Sea large tabular ice bergs are sighted

Another tabular berg.

Gradually the sea was filled with ice as "Archangelgracht" continued south

This type of old iceberg is called a "Growler"

Another old iceberg nearly submerged.

Eventually the Pack Ice was found just north of the Ross Sea entrance

Gingerly the "Archangelgracht" made its way through ice broken by the "Polar Sea".

Some older bergs are found amongst the pancake ice.

This ice was home to a number of seals shown on the floes above

The broken ice and cloud make for an interesting landscape

Late on 15th of February "Archangelgracht" was escorted around Ross Island and into McMurdo.

Moored against the ice wharf at McMurdo with the icebreaker "Polar Sea" nearly hidden behind the crane at right and the trans-Antarctic mountains visible in the far distance.

A view from Crater Hill with "Archangelgracht" moored at the ice wharf with McMurdo township at left and Observation Hill close behind.

Another view looking directly towards McMurdo township

A view taken from McMurdo back towards the "Archangelgracht".

A close up view of accomodation buildings in McMurdo.

A popular photo location in McMurdo at the signpost   overlooking the harbour.

A view taken from Observation Hill looking north.

After departure the "Archangelgracht" passed this splendid view of Mount Erebus.

Passing the face of a glacier in the Ross Sea on the voyage north.

Still in the Ross Sea with the trans-Antarctic mountains just visible in the distance.

Back in Lyttelton and safely berthed at Cashin Quay in the outer harbour on the 26th February, 2001.

A nice stern view of the "Archangelgracht" showing cleaerly the Amsterdam port of registry.

"Archangelgracht" proved to be a good ship for the Antarctic supply role without any major hassles so it is possible that she may be chartered for Antarctic supply trips in the future.