Up on its Feet
The Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station has now successfully been anchored into the granite rock. The building team has raised the station upon its steel feet and is currently working on the assembly of the wooden structure.
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The building team has begun raising the steel structure which will support the station's platform.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Varying between 2 and 6 metres in length, the station counts a total of 14 steel struts which have been anchored into the Utsteinen rock.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Julien and Greg in the workshop area.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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This is a mechanical adjustment system used to correct the steel bar's inclination with millimetre accuracy.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Team members are either working up on the ridge, filming those working on the ridge, building new bathroom facilities or cooking away to feed everyone.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Putting up the first horizontal beams.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Since the metal bars have been mounted on the Utsteinen ridge, work on the station has been advancing fast. But working up on the wooden beams requires the agility of a cat...
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Reinforcement piece to solidify the junction of two or more wooden beams.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Checking the intersetions and reinforcement pieces.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Upright beam being carried by crane.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Fixing the upright wooden beams to the steel bars.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Wooden structure doubling up.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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If you look closely enough, you can faintly distinguish the base camp and construction site upon the ridge.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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Alain and Bernard looking at where the rocks have to be cleared to fit the tower of the station.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert
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The floor is now going in. Every step forward is a new release of tension.
© International Polar Foundation / René Robert