Once again, EYOS continued a years-long project assisting NOAA with rebuilding the program’s field camp research station at Cape Shirreff in the South Shetland Islands. For over 20 years, this location has operated as a base for scientists who study the impacts of Antarctica’s largest fishery, the small shrimp-like krill. Here, team member Andreas Bergström shares an entry from his field notes from the Antarctic, providing an update on the progress on renovations and a small glimpse into how EYOS’s unique blend of collaboration and expertise is enabling science and conservation at the ends of the earth.
The mindset for an Antarctic operation is somewhat different the second time around. You know what you are in for – you are more prepared but also more aware that if we do not get everything right then things can go wrong.
As NOAA is opening their station at Cape Shirreff at the outer reach of the Antarctic Peninsula, we as EYOS guides, on board the r/s Betanzos, are helping with driving all the gear and provisions on land. There are four NOAA scientists staying at the remote station for four months, so there are many logistics connected to this operation.
For some of us, this is our second time assisting on this project and we know the hazards. At the anchorage, we are exposed to the big swells coming in from the southern ocean, which makes crane operations – loading big boxes onto our small inflatable boats – treacherous. The landing on the beach by the station is surrounded by shallows and skerries, causing big breaking waves to appear out of nowhere. On land, there is a lot of snow and lots of elephant seals and Antarctic fur seals. It is less of a hazard but more of an obstacle. And after all, the wildlife is what brings the scientists here.
At the end of the day, if successful, we will have delivered four people, 22 boxes weighing 250 kg each, one ATV, and one generator to the beach for the reconstruction of the research station. And then we still have to make it back safely across the Drake passage, towards Cape Horn, and through the Chilean fjords.
