First weeks of the 2023-24 season
The first BELARE team arrived at the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica for the 2023-24 season on the evening of November 11th.
Initial drone footage that Benoit took on the day they arrived showed a station covered in snow after being uninhabited for eight months. During the following days, the team dug out the station with the help of the Komatsu hybrid excavator, bulldozers, snowblowers, and shovels.
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Plumbers Bernard and Simeon Polet discuss the plan to assemble the station's new water treatment system with engineers Aymar de Lichtervelde and Nicolas Herinckx.
© International Polar Foundation
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Systems engineer Aymar de Lichtervelde testing the bacteria that treats the wastewater at the station.
© International Polar Foundation
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After clearing away the snow in front of the station, the BELARE team needs to adjust the levels of the station's annexes, which atop a moving glacier.
© International Polar Foundation
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The station's annexes sit on pylons that can be raised as the glacier below the station retreats and moves as much as 10 cm per year.
© International Polar Foundation
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The wall of the station's north annex was damaged by ice infiltration over the winter. IPF carpenters are repairing it.
© International Polar Foundation
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A mechanic starts up one of the Prinoth tractors after its winter hibernation.
© International Polar Foundation
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The treads of the Prinoth have to be serviced before it can return to active duty.
© International Polar Foundation
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Carpenters planning their day's work in the station's garage.
© International Polar Foundation
