Loading the cargo and Toyota Hiluxes in Zeebrugge
After beeing delayed for a few hours, the loading of the Mary Arctica finally took place in Zeebrugge. The IPF team was there to supervise the loading and admired the precision of the dock workers loading the ship with massive containers. The loading of the two modified Toyota Hiluxes was the highlight of the evening.
It took 10 hours to load 45 containers of equipment and supplies (including food) and both modified Toyota Hiluxes onto the ice class cargo vessel. The Mary Arctica sailed out of the port for Cape Town, South Africa, in the early hours of Sunday 14 December.
After a short stop in Cape Town, the ship will continue on to the coast of East Antarctica, where the BELARE team will unload the cargo before transporting it to the Princess Elisabeth station. The mary Arctica is expected to reach Antarctica around the 25th of January 2015.
Soundtrack credits: Ash, Echelon, courtesy of Secession Studios
Video: © Fares Manners / International Polar Foundation