Antarctica, Ahoy!
Sweco author: Euan Greig
I’m Euan Greig, and in my role as a Multi-disciplinary Programme Manager for the Energy & Special interest Projects BU within EWE, I’m fortunate to be a part of the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme (AIMP). Within the AIMP, I collaborate with different partners on special projects – specifically with BAM Nuttall, Ramboll, Hugh Broughton Architects and our clients at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).
This month, I’ll be embarking on a hugely exciting voyage to Antarctica, where I’ll complete an ‘Island Tour’ rotation of the research facilities we’re helping to transform on Bird Island, King Edward Point Signy stations in the future.
The trip’s primary purpose is to ensure that Sweco is represented among the team of wider partners, as they will all be present on this fact-finding expedition.
My role will be to collaborate with various partners from the AIMP team on-site and assist with operational support where needed – but more importantly I’m there to gain a clearer understanding of overall needs from scientists based on these stations and the significant logistical challenges, so I can share real-world insights with our Sweco teams back home to enhance our approach for future projects in Antarctica. And I’ll of course also be taking onboard any learnings that could be applied to UK-based work across our divisions, in slightly fewer extreme conditions. If we can do something in sub-zero temperatures with extreme logistical challenges, we can do it anywhere!
On a personal level it’s an amazing ‘bucket-list’ opportunity for me to visit some of the most unique and remote sites on the planet, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to be representing our team on this 30,000km round-trip.
A once in-a-lifetime travel itinerary
I’ll be departing the UK on 10 March on a journey that will take between 30 to 40 hours, with a stop in Punta, Chile. There, I’ll board the RRS Sir David Attenborough which will leave for Bird Island on 18 March. Bird Island is a very isolated location off the north-west of South Georgia (far colder than the US state at around -5 degrees in March) and is home to one of the rarest species of birds in the world – a place I’m sure our Sweco ecologists would find fascinating! I’ll be sure to take as many photos as I can!
The ship will be my home for the majority of my visit to Bird Island, where I’ll stay for four days. After that, I’ll head to King Edward Point which is another station Sweco has done a fair bit of work in the past. I’ll spend a few days there before moving on to Signy where an 8- to 9-member research team is based and where Sweco is currently helping the AIMP and BAS stakeholders considering redevelopment plans.
From Signy, I will start my journey homewards – sailing to the Falkland Islands where I am expected to arrive on 5 or 6 April.
I’m so excited to travel down to the Antarctic and to have the chance of a lifetime to follow in the footsteps of the great explorer, Ernest Shackleton, (as well as our very own Stewart Craigie, who visited in 2023). I can’t wait to explore the place that’s making such a huge difference to climate science – especially when the science is uncovering vital discoveries within buildings and infrastructure we’re helping to design and implement. Keep an eye out for more on my journey as it happens and fingers crossed the Wi-Fi on the ship works to allow me to communicate back home.