30/3-15

Position: 85° 19.2' N, 37° 15' W, temperature - 32° C, air pressure 1025 hPa, wind 4 knots from the ENE. Ice drift 0.1 knot to the SE. The engine stopped just after midnight while charging batteries. Got it going by bleeding fuel filters. This happened several times in a row. Started searching for the fault. Unrestricted flow in the fuel line, but diesel is dripping from the primer pump. When the engine is running, air is sucked into system via this route. Found a ball valve in my junk box with the right threads and put the valve between the block and the primer pump. Purged air out of the system using a separate 12 volt pump and closed the valve. Had the engine running on a couple of cylinders, but on the last stretch, the battery capacity was exhausted. We had from now on, no possibility to charge our batteries. Closed down all systems, also the navigation PC - will obtain position information from handheld GPS for the time being. Power to internet switched on as needed. The 24 volt hot water circulation pump was put on a separate 12 volt battery. Informed NERSC and John K. Hall and requested a reminder to FOH to consider an air drop of generators. Also sent an e-mail to the Danish Arctic Command inquiring about flight opportunities.