The Station offers a flexible environment from which to carry out your research. However, it is important to ensure you discuss all aspects of the station and availability of station equipment with the Station Manager before submitting your application. The section below provides further information about what facilities and equipment is available on base.
General
The Arctic Station is very well located in the Ny-Ålesund research village, where all central services, including the Kings Bay mess hall, is within walking distance of the Station. There are bicycles available for use on local gravel tracks during the summer months if required and the Station has it’s own workboat to assist with marine research and deploying field teams outside of the village. The NERC Station has six single bedrooms which are free of charge. If the NERC station bedrooms are occupied additional bedrooms owned by the Kings Bay Company can be rented (the costs for these should be included in your budget). The Station is extremely well-connected via a fibre optic web link and telephone system and you can now also use 4G in Ny-Ålesund. Note that you will need to bring your own UK/Europe travel adapters and ethernet adapters if needed. There are web ports in the main living area.
Laboratories
Multipurpose facilities compose of four laboratory spaces:
Large main laboratory with wide benching and double sink. Suitable for use as laboratory or electronics workshop
Annex chemical laboratory with recirculating fume hood, Class II biological safety cabinet and oven
Wet laboratory with ultra pure water system, sink and benching
Dry laboratory with benching (balances and microscopes)
Associated office space and store of general laboratory consumables
Laboratory equipment available for sample preparation, preservation and basic analysis
Spark free laboratory fridges and chest freezers
Balances (2 d.p. and 4 d.p.)
Vacuum pumps
Oven and vacuum concentrator
Microscopes (multiple light field, including blue light)
BioSpectrometer (200-830nm; with µCuvette)
pH meter
Centrifuges, heat block mixer and vortex (for 1.5ml, 15ml & 50ml tubes)
Autoclave, steriliser, and microwave
Web ports available in the laboratory
General consumable stocks (lab plastics, sample bags, etc.) available on request
A list of equipment installed in the labs can be found in the Arctic Station lab equipment list – but please check with the Station Manager before you depart that the items you need are available or whether you need to bring up your own. Bringing up your own equipment is possible but this must first be discussed with the Station Manager. If you do need to access the laboratories during your time at the Station, please ensure you discuss with the Station Manager in the first instance.
Polar Cirkel Workboat
The Station has a Polar Cirkel Workboat which is 5.8m long, and can carry a max load of 1000kg and usually up to a maximum of 6 people depending on conditions in the fjord. It can safely access many areas around Kongsfjord. The workboat is also regularly deployed to transport field teams and their equipment to field sites further away from the base, for example, to Kvadehuken on the furthest tip of Kongsfjord.
Science Equipment
Innovative Marine Science Capability with recent purchase of a Deep Trekker REV Remotely Operated Vehicle with associated equipment and maintenance.
Enhanced Baseline Marine Sampling Capability
Installation of New Electronics and Engineering Support Facility
Ice corer – available to all users of the Station.
Digital Communication Facility
Addition of outreach digital communication facility which includes two video cameras, tripods, microphones, lighting and editing equipment for outreach use.
Field safety equipment available at the station
The following list provides an overview of some of the equipment on base. Please note, on arrival on base, the Station Manager will provide a general safety briefing including the use of vhf radios.
For protection from attack by polar bear, individuals or groups must carry a NERC owned rifle and flare pistol outside the immediate station area. Those people who have elected to be the rifle bearers must attend a Kings Bay weapon course on arrival in Ny-Ålesund. The number of rifle bearers must be discussed with the Station Manager pre arrival in Ny-Ålesund. Following Kings Bay training the NERC Station Manager will introduce the rifle bearers to the NERC station rifles and flare pistols and will assess their competence.
| Weaponary | For protection from attack by polar bear, individuals or groups must carry a NERC owned rifle and flare pistol outside the immediate station area. Those people who have elected to be the rifle bearers must attend a Kings Bay weapon course (the cost falls with the researcher). The number of rifle bearers must be discussed with the Station Manager pre arrival in Ny-Ålesund. Following Kings Bay training the NERC Station Manager will introduce the rifle bearers to the NERC station rifles and flare pistols and will assess their competence. |
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| VHF Radios: | Hand held VHF radios are available for communication between party members in the field and with the NERC station. |
| Satellite telephones: | The station has Iridium satellite telephones and an Iridium base station telephone. |
| Search and Rescue: | Search and rescue equipment is held on the station. Field stretchers and medical equipment provided by Kings Bay a/s are available. A Puma helicopter equipped with a rescue winch is stationed in Longyearbyen. |
| Clothing and Equipment: | Outer shell cold weather clothing and boots are held on station. Mountaineering and limited camp equipment is also available. Provision of your own skis and boots is recommended. Please discuss with the Station Manager. |
| Flotation suits: | Helly Hansen floatation suits are provided for boating and skidoo travel on sea ice. |
| CO monitors: | The station owns carbon monoxide monitors which must be used in field huts and tents. |