A Trip to Crown Bay before Replacing the Batteries
This picture gallery give a visual account of our trip to Crown Bay to bring the remaining containers unloaded from the Mary Arctica to the station. Shortly after that, we replaced the 192 batteries in the station with new and more efficient ones we had just brought back from the coast.
-
Before we go, a general check is in order.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Mounting the new sledges before the traverse.
© International Polar Foundation
-
During the Antarctic summer, the fast ice at the coast melts and disappears.
© International Polar Foundation
-
In this aerial view of Crown Bay, you can see that the ice we used to unload the containers has now melted and broken apart.
© International Polar Foundation
-
You can see the ramp we used to get to the ice shelf at the end of the rift.
© International Polar Foundation
-
The cliffs here are almost 40 metres high. This is why we have to unload on sea ice and build a ramp every year.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Coming back at the station with the remaining containers. Some of them contain the new batteries for the station.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Old batteries removed from the battery room.
© International Polar Foundation
-
To move batteries up and down the stairs more easily, we build a little ramp.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Here we go! The first batteries are out!
© International Polar Foundation
-
Batteries on the roof, with a first palette ready to be lifted.
© International Polar Foundation
-
A crane is used to move the old batteries from the roof to the technical areas, where they will be packed for transport.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Same crane lifting the new batteries to the roof.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Regis installing the new batteries.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Erik cabling the new batteries.
© International Polar Foundation
-
Now it's time to remove the old solar panels to replace them with new and more efficient ones ...
© International Polar Foundation
