My name is Stuart Wallace. On arrival at Rothera I'll be starting my job as Boatman, my work keeping me in Antarctica for the next eighteen months. During that time I hope to write a letter to appear on this web site every month or so. By reading this page you have obviously found your way to the British Antarctic Survey's web site.
Much support is necessary to enable people to live and work in hostile conditions far from home.
BAS operates two ships, five aircraft and four stations, three of which are staffed all year round. So in addition to the scientists themselves there are many other professions - cooks, carpenters, mechanics, electricians, pilots, doctors, plumbers, computer engineers and more besides. The two ships are RRS Bransfield and RRS James Clark Ross. Four of the aircraft are of a type called Twin Otters which can land on skis while the fifth is a Dash 7. The stations are called Halley, Signy, Bird Island and Rothera.