Summer visit to the polar bears

While the thermometers in Central Europe are showing summer heat, the British research vessel Protector has set an icy record. Never before has a Royal Navy ship travelled further north than 80° 41.5' N. To be fair, this does not include submarines, which pass under the perpetual ice and then break through the ice cover when they surface at a suitable point. Up to 1050 kilometres the Protector The team has now reached the North Pole to collect data on the ocean and the environment.

HMS Protector

It was a long way to get there, as the research vessel had not had ice under its bow for more than two years. After a long period in the shipyard, which only ended in January, the ship and crew first had to get back into shape. The programme to be completed included a bollard pull test in Flekkefjord in southern Norway, during which the performance of the engines was checked. The first attempts at icebreaking were made by the Protector then in the Fram Strait, a sea route between the Greenland Sea in the North Atlantic and the Wandel Sea in the Arctic Ocean. Under the supervision of scientists, engineers and expert staff from the Ministry of Defence and the British Antarctic Survey, various types and thicknesses of ice had to be overcome. Finally, two British naval officers with previous experience on board the Cutter were embarked for the journey to the North Pole. Polestar of the US Coast Guard in Alaska. Further expertise comes from an experienced US Coast Guard officer who is also accompanying the voyage.

Captain Michael Wood, commander of the Protector

The tasks of the Protector include examining the seabed at depths of two to three thousand metres, measuring currents and observing Arctic wildlife. Daily patrols on the ice are led by Sergeant Chris Carlisle, a Royal Marines mountain guide. The presence of curious polar bears requires particular attention. "The team has ventured out into one of the most remarkable regions on the planet," said Captain Michael Wood, commander of the Protector. "The chance to familiarise ourselves with this unforgiving environment is fantastic and underlines the UK's ability to operate in the Arctic."
After the ship returns to Plymouth, the crew will prepare for the next big voyage. This time, the ship is heading south to Antarctica, where it is due to arrive in the autumn.

Text: mb; Photos: Royal Navy/Crown Copyright