BAS bids farewell to Captain John Harper
20 September, 2022
Captain John Harper retires this month after a long and successful career at British Antarctic Survey (BAS). In fact, with an incredible 42 years of service, Captain Harper is the …
Operational Teams
Operational support for UK polar research is managed by our Operations teams. The team covers a wide range of activities from managing Arctic and Antarctic Research stations, operating polar ships and aircraft. Our expertise is in polar fieldwork planning, aircraft and ship operations as well as developing engineering and technology solutions for science. Explore these pages to meet our teams.
RRS Sir David Attenborough collaborates with cruise ship
11 February, 2022
RRS Sir David Attenborough (SDA) has collaborated with the cruise ship Le Commandant Charcot in its efforts to deliver critical science cargo to the English Coast, Antarctica in support of the …
RRS James Clark Ross sold
19 August, 2021
After 30 years of service with British Antarctic Survey the RRS James Clark Ross has been sold to the Ukrainian National Antarctic Scientific Centre. This is the second time that …
BAS field season underway
8 January, 2021
The BAS field season is underway. Since the RRS James Clark Ross departed the UK in November last year, it has safely delivered summer and wintering staff and essential cargo …
Update on 2020/21 Antarctic field season: responding to COVID-19 pandemic
7 August, 2020
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) provides more detail about its Antarctic season operational plan for the forthcoming field season and how it plans to keep Antarctica virus-free. COVID-19 continues to present …
Update: British Antarctic Survey response to COVID-19 and planning for next season
1 May, 2020
CAMBRIDGE: British Antarctic Survey (BAS) continues to plan its operational support to the UK and international polar research community during global challenges posed by COVID-19. Halley and Signy Research Stations …
Medical Evacuation Successfully Completed
1 October, 2018
A medical evacuation from the British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) Rothera Research Station was successfully completed this weekend. The evacuation was a precautionary measure in order for the patient to be …
Practice makes perfect
26 September, 2018
The construction team responsible for building a new Antarctic wharf at Rothera Research Station have been practicing full-scale assembly of the 30 tonne steel rigs in Southampton before deployment South. …
BAS wins National Capability Funding
12 September, 2018
The British Antarctic Survey has been awarded National Capability funds for polar science which will strengthen UK national security, resilience, economic growth and societal benefit
Halley Research Station will not winter in 2018
31 October, 2017
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has decided, for safety reasons, that it will close its Halley VI Research Station during the 2018 Antarctic winter. This will be the second time that …
Halley VI Research Station – relocation success
2 February, 2017
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has successfully relocated Halley VI Research Station to its new home on the Brunt Ice Shelf. Operational teams have spent the past 13 weeks moving each …
Expedition to uncover the ‘lost’ meteorites of Antarctica
31 January, 2017
Scientists from University of Manchester are preparing for the first ever UK-led meteorite hunting expedition to Antarctica, where they will seek out the ‘lost’ meteorites of the icy continent, which …
Halley Research Station Antarctica to close for winter
16 January, 2017
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has decided not to winter at Halley VI Research Station for safety reasons. The station, which is located on the floating Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica, …
Construction partner announced
4 January, 2017
Construction expert BAM has been chosen to partner with British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to modernise UK Antarctic and other research facilities, enabling British scientists to continue delivering world class research …
Relocation of Halley Research Station
6 December, 2016
British Antarctic Survey is getting ready to move its Halley VI Research Station 23 km across the ice. This is the first time that the station, which has a re-locatable …
New field season begins
29 November, 2016
As spring returns to the southern hemisphere British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has started another research season which will take them over land, sea and ice in search of answers to …
Medical evacuation successfully completed
20 June, 2016
The medical evacuation from the US South Pole station via British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station has been completed successfully. A Twin Otter arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile in the …
On the ice opportunity for PhD students and Early Career Researchers
7 April, 2016
16 PhD students and Early Career Researchers have a unique opportunity to gain practical skills for working safely and effectively in the polar regions.
NEWS STORY: Polar Medal awards
8 January, 2016
Two British Antarctic Survey (BAS) personnel, and one former member of staff, have been awarded the Polar Medal. The announcement was made today (Fri. 8th Jan 2016) in the London …
NEWS STORY: New polar ship contract signed
23 November, 2015
The contract for the UK’s new polar research ship was signed NERC’s Chief Operating Office Paul Fox and Cammell Laird Chief Executive, John Syvret CBE on Friday 19 November 2015 …
PRESS RELEASE: New season – ambitious science
23 November, 2015
New season tackles ambitious science and logistical challenges The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) 2015/16 field season is underway with dozens of scientists and support staff – together with planes and tonnes …
NEWS STORY: New polar ship bidder selected
12 October, 2015
Government announces preferred bidder to build new polar ship Minister of State for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson announced today that the preferred bidder to build a new polar research …
NEWS STORY: Data recovered in Antarctica
11 February, 2015
BAS recovers American scientific data in Antarctica Staff from the British Antarctic Survey have recovered crucial scientific data from a giant helium balloon which came down in west Antarctica. The …
NEWS STORY: Power-down update
12 August, 2014
UPDATE Power-down at British Antarctic Survey Halley Research Station The 13 members of staff at Halley Research Station continue to remain safe and well following the power-down incident on 30 …
NEWS STORY: Power-down at Research Station
6 August, 2014
Power-down at British Antarctic Survey Halley Research Station – Statement British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is dealing with a serious operational incident at its Halley Research Station. On Wednesday 30 July …
NEWS STORY: Design award for Halley VI
16 May, 2014
Halley VI honoured for outstanding design and construction It’s been quite a week for Halley VI, picking up numerous Architizer A+ awards in New York and winning two more at …
NEWS STORY: Accolade for Halley VI engineers
10 April, 2014
Halley engineers AECOM Shortlisted for ICE London Civil Engineering Award AECOM’s British Antarctic Survey Halley VI Antarctic Research Station project has been shortlisted for the ICE London Civil Engineering Awards’ …
NEWS STORY: Another award for Halley VI
3 April, 2014
Halley VI: recognition for a unique and innovative research station After receiving two Civic Trust awards last month, British Antarctic Survey’s Halley VI Research Station has scooped yet another award …
NEWS STORY: Halley VI wins two awards
12 March, 2014
British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station scoops two 2014 Civic Trust Awards British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station received a 2014 Civic Trust Award and a Civic Trust Special Award …
NEWS STORY: New Year’s Honour
9 January, 2014
New Year’s Honour for BAS Head of Operations John Hall, Head of Operations and Logistics (OPAL) at BAS, was among those named in the New Year’s Honours List. He was …
NEWS STORY: Construction award for Halley VI
10 October, 2013
British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station wins British Construction Industry Award 2013 British Antarctic Survey’s Halley Research Station won a prestigious British Construction Industry (BCI) International Award at a ceremony …
PRESS RELEASE: Futuristic design wins competition for new Antarctic Research Station
19 July, 2005
A futuristic design by Faber Maunsell and Hugh Broughton Architects has won the competition for the new British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Halley Research Station. In a very close-run contest, three …
PRESS RELEASE: Halley Design Competition Announcement of winner – 19 July 2005 at RIBA London
6 July, 2005
Tension is mounting for three teams of architects and engineers who are competing for the design of the new British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Halley Research Station. The winning team will …
PRESS RELEASE: Exhibition showcases designs for new research station in Antarctica
15 November, 2004
Six concept designs, from teams short-listed in an international design competition to build a new research station in Antarctica, are unveiled today (Monday 15 November) at an exhibition at the …
Design Competition for new Antarctic Research Station – short-list announced
23 August, 2004
Six multi-disciplinary design teams are short-listed for an international competition to design a new scientific research station in Antarctica. The Halley VI competition attracted 86 entries in this unique project …
PRESS RELEASE: Design Competition for new Antarctic Research Station – Launch
29 June, 2004
Operational Note – Media Briefing 10.30 am 29 June 2004, Royal Institute of British Architects 66 Portland Place, London. A major international competition to design a new scientific research station …
Season’s end: preparing Halley VI for the winter
20 February, 2023 by Emily Newton
Martin Bell, Halley Vehicles Engineering Manager, reflects on the work of the Vehicles team as the Halley Research Station closes for winter. This award-winning and innovative research station provides scientists …
Drilling for success
29 January, 2019 by Michael Dinn
In January 2019 a science and engineering team drilled over two kilometres through the ice sheet in West Antarctica using hot water. It was the first time they had done this …
Guest blog: arriving at Bird Island
17 November, 2017 by Daan Aldenberg
One misty day last week (November 2017), the RRS James Clark Ross arrived at Bird Island in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. On board was Daan Aldenberg, from BAM International, partner …
Guest blog: How to move an Antarctic research station #2
6 March, 2017 by Ben Rowe
This is Part 2 of a guest blog written by Ramboll engineer Ben Rowe, who was embedded with the British Antarctic Survey for 11 weeks to advise and assist with …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Signy season gets underway!
12 February, 2016 by Alex Taylor
Despite being one of BAS’s smallest stations, I would argue that Signy is one of the most remote. Situated in the South Orkney Islands, at a relatively northerly 60 degrees …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Polar guide tackles the long wait #6
4 January, 2016 by Ashly Fusiarski
Life in Antarctica can be difficult but strangely the more difficult it is, the easier it becomes. Life starts to be simple. One only has to do whatever it takes. The …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Polar guide arrives on site #5
2 December, 2015 by Ashly Fusiarski
As we finally approached our input site I could see our future home in the distance, a little black dot on a frozen white ocean, slowly growing in size as …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Polar guide flies into the field – #4
25 November, 2015 by Ashly Fusiarski
A week after iBeam departed, our aircraft arrived at Sky-Blu from Rothera to take us further into the field, to our winterised vehicles, to our start point. The call sign …
ANTARCTIC BLOG: Changing of the seasons
20 November, 2015 by Thomas Welsh
New summer season starts at Halley
