By Gary Goose, International Correspondent

The first 13 members of the Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition arrived safely at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica, the International Polar Foundation reported November 6. Getting there opened the station’s 2026–27 season. Getting the station back into working order took several days of snow clearing, equipment work and a restart of the systems that supply water.

Preparing before the flight south

The team made its final preparations in Cape Town, South Africa. Several members took a two-day firefighting course, including exercises in a container arranged to resemble a ship corridor and cabin. The foundation said the crew practised moving and responding in darkness, conditions that make a fire in a confined space harder to manage.

Putting the station back to work

At the station, the crew spent three days clearing snow from around the buildings and switched its systems into summer operation. The team installed two additional battery groups to store more energy from the station’s wind turbines and solar panels. Once the garage doors were clear, the crew could refill the snow melter and restore the water supply. By the time the foundation reported the opening, the station’s systems were back in operation.

International Polar Foundation

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