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surgeon. The BeJgica was frozen in the pack off Alexander I Island 

 in February 1898. After a number of months of aimless drifting 

 in the Bellingshausen Sea, during which the members of the party 

 underwent a physical and mental decline. Cook conceived the idea 

 of working the ship into a polynya about half a mile away. All 

 hands turned to with ice saws and attacked the ice. In a few 

 weeks they had cut the channel, and the BeJgica was again afloat; 

 meanwhile their health and mental vigor were restored. In February 

 1899 a lead opened into the polynya, through which the ship worked 

 clear of the ice. 



PRECAUTIONS AGAINST BEING BESET 



If a vessel is in danger of getting fast, especially if signs of pressure 

 are evident, the master will be faced with the necessity of attempting 

 to break through ice. The same problem arises if a floe which cannot 

 be circumnavigated is encountered, provided no pressure is observed 

 in the floe. Except in these circumstances, icebreaking should not be 

 attempted by an ordinary vessel. 



It will be possible to break only ice masses which have already been 

 so weakened by thawing that the impact does not damage the hull. 

 Head blows against the ice must be avoided. The impact should be 

 taken on the stem perpendicular to the edge of the ice. A blow struck 

 at any other angle will not break through. Instead, the vessel will 

 graze with her bow along the edge of the ice and the forward plating 

 may suffer as a result of the blow. In addition, the stern of the vessel 

 is thrown violently to one side and, on coming into contact with the 

 ice, the rudder and propeller may be damaged. 



A blow against the ice can only be achieved by taking something of 

 a run. The length of the run should be calculated in accordance with 

 the hardness of the ice and the strength of the hull of the vessel. With 

 a run, it is possible to open up a floe along the lines of narrow cracks 

 and openings. It is necessary, however, to watch the ice very carefully 

 to avoid hitting any projection that may buckle the plates. 



PRECAUTION WHEN BESET 



When a vessel is beset by ice, aground, or jammed between two ice 

 blocks, the above measures should be tried in an effort to extricate her. 

 If they fail, clear away the ice at the sides of the vessel, although it is 

 not always the ice at the sides that is the cause of the stoppage. It is 

 often the tongue under the water which cannot very well be reached. 



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