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Sending faxes to Antarctic stations and ships

Weekly allowance:

The weekly allowance for faxed messages is one A4 sheet (approximately 500 words). This allowance can either be used by one or shared between the two officially nominated contacts.

  • If you are allocated the whole allowance, then your message should fit on one sheet of A4 paper.
  • If you only have half the allowance, then please use only half an A4 sheet. Contacts may also share the allowance by each sending an A4 sheet on alternate weeks.

Field personnel: The allowance for personnel whilst in the field is reduced to a maximum of 200 words per week, shared between two contacts. This limit has to be applied because the messages are passed by radio.

Instructions

Your fax is transmitted from BAS offices in Cambridge.

  • Use a white unlined sheet of A4 paper. It is difficult to transmit sheets smaller than A4
  • Your contact’s name and the name of the base or ship where they are stationed must appear at the top of the sheet.
  • Type, print or write your message clearly, leaving a blank 10mm border around the edge of the sheet. Only text may be sent — no pictures or attachments can be included.

  • Post your message in an envelope addressed to:

    PERSONAL MESSAGE
    British Antarctic Survey
    High Cross
    Madingley Road
    CAMBRIDGE
    CB3 0ET
    United Kingdom

    Do not put your contact’s name and base/ship on the envelope otherwise it will be put with the general ship or base mail and may take several weeks or even months to get to the Antarctic. Your contact’s name should appear only at the top of the enclosed message, together with the name of the base or ship.