Buildings
The scientific station on Transvaal bay consists of 19 buildings,
some linked by passage ways. Most are build on a framework of poles driven
into the mires and mud of the coastal plain, but some have concrete foundations.
Of these buildings four are dedicated laboratories and three form the sleeping
quarters. The rest of the buildings are used as store rooms, power
generator rooms and safety/emergency rooms. A new base will be constructed
to replace the current one, of which some buildings date from more than
twenty years ago. Construction is to start in August 2003 and expected to
be completed in 2007. The then old base will be completely removed, save
for a few buildings that will be converted to perform new functions.
Power
Electricity is generated by three-phase AC generators driven
by diesel . engines At any one time one of the four engines (two ADE's
and two Deutz'es) runs 250 hours cocontinuouslyefore the there is a
change over to the next one. Electricity is thus available 24 hours
daily and every ten days everything is shut down for five to ten minutes
to change over to the next machine. Critical communications equipment
is powered by an uninterruptable power supply during these change overs.
The generators runs on polar diesel that is shipped once yearly with
the mv SA Agulhas. The diesel is pumped from the ship with pipes to the
storage tanks on the island. There are 18 tanks, each storing 13 000 litres
of diesel. Usage is about a tank a month, depending on the machine running,
work being done in base and the average temperature.
Water
The storage dam built for the hydro plant is also used to provide
base with water. A 3/4 inch pipeline runs from the dam to five 2000
litre storage tanks close to base. There the water is filtered and then
provides base with all its water needs.
Waste
All waste is sorted and returned to South Africa. Plastics, glass,
tins, batteries, etc is sorted, acontainerizednd sealed to be loaded
on the Agulhas on the annual voyage. Human waste flows into the sea at Shit
Creek. Paper, cardboard and wood is burned in an incinerator, the ash containerized.
Food waste is dumped in the sea at the crane point at night. It is done
at night to prevent scscavenger birds to become reliant on the base as
a source of food.
Food
All food is brought with the supply ship. Dry products are stored
in the heli-hanger since the original food store was blown away in a storm
in 1999. Frozen products are stored in three walk-in freezers at temperatures
of -15ºC to -18ºC. No fresh produce are allowed on the island
to prevent the accidental introduction of alien fauna and flora. All imported
poultry produce is treated; no chicken bone or skin are allowed and all
eggs are radiated to prevent possible infections with Newcastle's disease.
all poultry waste is kept separately and frozen for return to South Africa.
Clothing
Expedition members are issued with a complete clothing issue.
This includes rain gear, strong shirts and trousers, polar fleece jackets,
thermal underwear, sunglasses, gloves, etc. Members keep their issue
after completion of the expedition, but life on the island is tough
so the clothes usually last only for the duration of the expedition.
Accommodation
During take-over rooms are shared, but for the rest of the year
team members get to stay in their own rooms. There are three accommodation
blocks. Overlooking the bay and next to the kitchen is Seaview. Ocean
views is obscured by four diesel tanks. Why did the tanks need to be
in front of base? Squatters is next to the bar and the rooms are really
small. Santon is grand with large rooms and beautiful snow capped mountain
views.
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