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Breaking its way through the thick pack ice, the Mary Arctica headed for Breid Bay. 5°E (the Norwegian landing site in East Antarctica) has remained closed since the end of December because of the thick fast ice failing to break, despite the advancing season. Resupply was becoming doubtful and the gloom was beginning to spread. As the icepack to the East began to open up, the decision was taken to head to the Belgian Antarctic Operations cargo unloading site. Breid Bay was selected out of the three possible sites (Crown Bay and Dog's Head Terminus, last year's unloading site, remained inaccessible). A window of opportunity presented itself between two powerful squalls. One storm abated on the 23rd, the sky opened out a washed cloudless blue, and the ship moved in to moor against the ragged ice cliff. Operations began immediately, with containers gently deposited on the blue ice, and towed away by snow tractor to be loaded on to sledges. But the swell rose, and tossed the ship up and down like a bath toy, so much so that the cranes could not be operated safely. The ship headed into the bay to await calmer conditions. Twelve hours later, the waters smoothed over, and the wind fell. She returned, and moored again, and the precious Black Panthers came ashore to a rapturous reception from the awaiting station crew. Video: © International Polar Foundation / Jos Van Hemelrijck & Fares Manners Music: "Black Vortex” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... See more from The International Polar Foundation: -http://www.polarfoundation.org -http://www.antarcticstation.org -http://vimeo.com/118124374 - / intpolarfoundation  

On January 23rd and 24th, the BELARE 10 team met the Mary Arctica cargo ship at Breid Bay on the coast of East Antarctica to unload supplies and equipment destined for the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica research station. Two customised Toyota Hiluxes were part of the cargo delivered, and the team was able to give them their first test drive in Antarctica.

A bad storm hit Utsteinen last weekend. It hit the station on Saturday: here is a quick glimpse of how it looks and feels like.

To see more from the International Polar Foundation got to: http://vimeo.com/116200931 or http://www.polarfoundation.org Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Germany, discovered a possible meteorite impact site during an aerial geological survey mission to study the geological history of Antarctica. Copyright: International Polar Foundation / Jos Van Hemelrijck / Fares Manners Music: Dexter Britain "seeing the future" / dexterbritain.co.uk

Researchers from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Germany, discovered a possible meteorite impact site during an aerial geological survey mission to study the geological history of Antarctica.Copyright: International Polar Foundation / Jos Van Hemelrijck / Fares MannersMusic: Dexter Britain "seeing the future" / dexterbritain.co.uk

We followed the IceCon crew during their expedition in November and December. ULB glaciologists Jean Louis Tison and Frank Pattyn took the time to explain their research, what glaciology can teach us, and the difficulties and successes they had while in the field this season.

After spending over a month in Antarctica, the first group of scientists and crew members left the Princess Elisabeth station and headed back to Belgium in time to spend Christmas with their families. We met with them in Zaventem Airport.

Our electrical engineer, Karel Moerman, brought a drone with him to Antarctica this year. We've taken aerial images of the station from an ultra light aircraft before, but this is the first time that an unmanned drone has flown over the station and shot footage.From take off to landing, this video will take you on an aerial tour of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station, Utsteinen Ridge, the runway where planes take off and land, and the general vicinity of the station.A fresh perspectiveEven for those of us who are accustomed to seeing the station on a daily basis, this footage allowed us to see the station from a fresh perspective.Thank you Karel!Music: "Uncertainty" by Ian Alex Mac

Our electrical engineer, Karel Moerman, brought a drone with him to Antarctica this year. We've taken aerial images of the station from an ultra light aircraft before, but this is the first time that an unmanned drone has flown over the station and shot footage. Princess Elisabeth Antarctica from above From take off to landing, this video will take you on an aerial tour of the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station, Utsteinen Ridge, the runway where planes take off and land, and the general vicinity of the station. A fresh perspective Even for those of us who are accustomed to seeing the station on a daily basis, this footage allowed us to see the station from a fresh perspective. Thank you Karel! Video: © International Polar Foundation / Karel Moerman / Editing: Fares Manners - Music: "Uncertainty" by Ian Alex Mac