Princess Elisabeth Antarctica
Logistics and Support
Antarctic logistics may not be as difficult as they used to, but heading down to Antarctica remains a major logistics challenge. Besides the team and the scientists, the various instruments to be installed at the station and the equipment for the crew need to be transported to Antarctica.
Mobile Labs & Accommodation Containers
In the Field for Extended Periods of Time
The IPF team at the Princess Elisabeth Station has built a series of in-field accommodation and laboratory containers for scientists. These containers are more comfortable than tents and provide much better protection from the harsh conditions in Antarctica.
Besides the accommodation containers, the IPF team built a series of laboratory containers, which allow a team of scientists to conduct preliminary research while in the field, allowing them to win some time and start feeding data into their databases.
Field Equipment
Clothes and gear
Thanks to a partnership with top-notch garment producers, the International Polar Foundation is able to provide all BELARE team members with specifically adapted gear for Antarctica. Based on a multi-layering principle, the clothing allows the team members to maintain comfortable yet not too warm body temperatures.
Sleeping Bags
Unlike your regular sleeping bag, these sleeping bags are up to Antarctic standards and while make sure to keep you warm even in a small tent in the middle of Antarctic wilderness.
Tents
The storms in Antarctica are notorious for their strength. These tents were specially designed to withstand the hardships of the Antarctic weather and to prevent your temporary in-field sleeping room from being shred to bits by the hurling Antarctic wind.
Boots
Over the course of various expeditions, the design of these boots was refined for better insulation from the cold, while remaining comfortable. Moreover, these boots are waterproof, ensuring that your feet remain dry, in all circumstances.
Sledges
Similar to those used by Belgian polar explorer Alain Hubert on his countless expeditions, these sledges offer the possibility to carry quite some material while heading into the field on foot. Once linked together, these can also function as a raft to cross leads.
Vehicles
From Skidoos to Tractors
The Princess Elisabeth Station has its own car park, fully outfitted with Prinoths and ski-doos. The Prinoths are mostly used to build the airstrip at the beginning of the season and haul the freight from the offloading site at the coast to Utsteinen.
The smaller ski-doos are used to head into the field for day trips and reach research areas that don't require the logistics involved with a Prinoth.
Workshops and Technical Areas
Test Beforehand
At the beginning of a new season, and after every field trip, the tractors and the ski-doos are serviced to check for any faults before releasing them for further use. Other machines are also tested in the workshops upon arrival as the shipping to Antarctica can often put pieces of machinery through an ordeal they were not build to stand.
Repair if Needed
If Antarctica breaks it, we can (mostly) fix it. The workshops at the foot of the Princess Elisabeth Station are well-furnished and feature all the necessary tools to repair the flaws and broken parts of the various equipments of the station, whether they have a motor or not.
Build Equipment
On certain occasions, the station mechanics and engineers were called upon to design and built certain specific pieces of equipment. One of these special features was the small drill designed for Dr. Zorigto Namsaraev of the project BELDIVA to drill into cryoconites.
Office Spaces
Your Own Desk
In all stations, space is a rare resource and having your own desk to work on for extended periods of time is a luxury, not to mention a nice Antarctic view.
The working spaces inside the station's main building were optimized so as to offer as much working space as possible, while maintaining optimal light conditions.
Communications
Broadband Internet & Radio
The means of communications in Antarctica have well evolved over the years, and the radio of the heydays of exploration have been replaced by broadband Internet connections and satellite phones.
While still isolated, the expeditions to Antarctica can now stay in touch with their home base, colleagues and relatives using a broadband Internet Sattelite connexion.
Your Safety Matters
Medical Assistance
For every season to Antarctica, the IPF team recruits a physician to treat injuries that might occur over the course of the season. The doctor also has live access to a remote network of colleagues in different specialties. A medical evacuation procedure is in place for serious cases.
Certified Field Guides
The best way to not have a problem in Antarctica, however, remains to avoid them, which is why any movement to and from the station is supervised by certified field guides. These people have undergone extensive training and are familiar with harsh polar and ice conditions.