At the time of the interview in early March, he was living aboard the NSF research vessel the N.B. Palmer. The seas in Antarctica are always chaotic, said Anderson. The waves approach from more than one direction because the winds are so variable. And then there is the sun, or rather the lack of the sun. Even though at this time of the year the sun never dips completely below the horizon, the skies are usually gray.
Any person venturing into that cold, wet, gray environment requires special protection.
The crew and researchers aboard the Palmer wear special outfits on deck called Mustang suits, which are waterproof and warm. Their hands get cold because people frequently take off their gloves to work, but the entire deck of the Palmer is heated, so feet stay warm. Life aboard the Palmer is an improvement over the older NSF research vessels, said Anderson. The ship has a well-equipped exercise room, a sauna and plenty of lounge space. This is a stark contrast to the Coast Guard vessels we used to work on that were about the same size but had a crew of about 300 people.