- Picture Galleries in Logistics

Unloading the Mary Arctica and First Traverse

The ship arrived at Crown Bay on the coast with a lot of equipment destined for the Princess Elisabeth station. Four tractors with sledges came to the rendez-vous point at Crown Bay to unload the Mary Arctica as swiftly as possible and take the containers back to the station.

  • The Mary Arctica finally made it to the coast after being blocked 150km out at sea by thick sea ice. - International Polar Foundation

    The Mary Arctica finally made it to the coast after being blocked 150km out at sea by thick sea ice.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Meanwhile, the IPF team is coming from the station. It's a 20-hour trip by slow-moving Prinoth tractors. We have two drivers per tractor and we drive straight thought without stopping. While one drives, the other can sleep. - International Polar Foundation

    Meanwhile, the IPF team is coming from the station. It's a 20-hour trip by slow-moving Prinoth tractors. We have two drivers per tractor and we drive straight thought without stopping. While one drives, the other can sleep.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • We have to refuel every three hours. - International Polar Foundation

    We have to refuel every three hours.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Having a little chat during a refueling on our way to the coast. - International Polar Foundation

    Having a little chat during a refueling on our way to the coast.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Jacques needs to wear extra sunglasses around midnight during his driving shift. - International Polar Foundation

    Jacques needs to wear extra sunglasses around midnight during his driving shift.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Unloading camp on top of the ice shelf, facing Crown Bay. - International Polar Foundation

    Unloading camp on top of the ice shelf, facing Crown Bay.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Only 3 hours of sleep and we venture onto the sea ice. - International Polar Foundation

    Only 3 hours of sleep and we venture onto the sea ice.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Evaluating the thickness and solidity of the ice before driving on it with the tractors. - International Polar Foundation

    Evaluating the thickness and solidity of the ice before driving on it with the tractors.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • The ice is good. One Prinoth goes in front to even out the unloading area. - International Polar Foundation

    The ice is good. One Prinoth goes in front to even out the unloading area.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Going on board to discuss and plan the unloading operation with Captain Pertersen. - International Polar Foundation

    Going on board to discuss and plan the unloading operation with Captain Pertersen.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Unloading the first helicopter. As you can see, we're standing on roughly 2 meters of sea ice. - International Polar Foundation

    Unloading the first helicopter. As you can see, we're standing on roughly 2 meters of sea ice.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • The second helicopter. - International Polar Foundation

    The second helicopter.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Jacques Richon, our Swiss Mountain Doctor, is really fond of helicopters and quite happy to see these two. - International Polar Foundation

    Jacques Richon, our Swiss Mountain Doctor, is really fond of helicopters and quite happy to see these two.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Nighat Amin, who is in charge of logistics, is supervising the unloading operations. - International Polar Foundation

    Nighat Amin, who is in charge of logistics, is supervising the unloading operations.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • The ship's crane lifting a container. - International Polar Foundation

    The ship's crane lifting a container.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Unloading cargo. - International Polar Foundation

    Unloading cargo.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Loading container on sledge with the Hammar side loader before taking it onto the ice shelf. - International Polar Foundation

    Loading container on sledge with the Hammar side loader before taking it onto the ice shelf.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Every year, we build a ramp to be able to transport cargo from the sea ice to the ice shelf. - International Polar Foundation

    Every year, we build a ramp to be able to transport cargo from the sea ice to the ice shelf.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Invited on board for dinner. - International Polar Foundation

    Invited on board for dinner.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Around midnight, the last container is unloaded and the ship prepares to leave. - International Polar Foundation

    Around midnight, the last container is unloaded and the ship prepares to leave.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Farewell after 18 hours of working together. It always feels a little strange to see them go. - International Polar Foundation

    Farewell after 18 hours of working together. It always feels a little strange to see them go.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Entitled to enjoy a few hours of rest before heading back to the station. - International Polar Foundation

    Entitled to enjoy a few hours of rest before heading back to the station.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Refueling the fridge and freezer container before the journey back to the station. - International Polar Foundation

    Refueling the fridge and freezer container before the journey back to the station.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • On the road again back to Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. Scientists and engineers are waiting for their equipment. - International Polar Foundation

    On the road again back to Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. Scientists and engineers are waiting for their equipment.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Fixing a small mechanical problem one hour away from our destination. The hydraulic circuit of one of the tractors had a problem. - International Polar Foundation

    Fixing a small mechanical problem one hour away from our destination. The hydraulic circuit of one of the tractors had a problem.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Problem fixed. Cleaning the oil before carrying on. - International Polar Foundation

    Problem fixed. Cleaning the oil before carrying on.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • As soon as we got to the station, everybody was lending a hand to empty the fridge and the freezer. - International Polar Foundation

    As soon as we got to the station, everybody was lending a hand to empty the fridge and the freezer.

    © International Polar Foundation

  • Here we are: the first containers are neatly stored at Princess Elisabeth. More traverses will be needed to bring back the remaining ones we left on the ice shelf. - International Polar Foundation

    Here we are: the first containers are neatly stored at Princess Elisabeth. More traverses will be needed to bring back the remaining ones we left on the ice shelf.

    © International Polar Foundation