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>>> SEAN McGOWAN REPORTS Work and life in the Antarctic The Australian Antarctic Division will soon begin its annual recruitment campaign. Sean McGowan speaks to the AAD and those working in one of the world’s most remote environments about the challenges and rewards of work and life in the Antarctic.

Paul Baker (left) and Dave Gurney (right). The pipes are calling.

The Australian Antarctic Division is an agency of the collaborative relations with key program scientists plumber. The experience was obviously a positive one, Australian Government’s Department of Environment located at the University of Tasmania, Antarctic CRC and as Price has since summered at Macquarie Island on and Water Resources, with a charter to ensure Australia’s CSIRO. There are also numerous joint programs with three separate occasions, as well as being stationed at Antarctic interests are advanced. national and international institutions. Casey three times and Mawson twice.

The Australian Antarctic Program has four goals: to Each year, more than 200 expeditioners head south, “I guess after all the trips south, the logical place for maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance some for the summer research season and some for the me to work was at the Antarctic Division in Hobart. long haul through the winter either on the Antarctic Australia’s influence in it; to protect the Antarctic I had worked for the AAD in contract positions and continent or the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. environment; to understand Antarctica’s role in the as a temporary employee for a number of years, and global climate system and to undertake scientific work Tradespeople play a vital role in ensuring Australia’s enjoyed the diversity of work, the challenges, and the of practical, economic and national significance. stations continue to function. opportunities to head south and work with a wide As such, the AAD employs over 300 people at the One of those charged with the administration and range of professional people,” he explains . Division’s headquarters in Hobart, Tasmania. In the mix support of the Antarctic stations is Tim Price, mechanical Now managing the AAD station heating and ventilation, are scientists, policy makers, operations and support services supervisor for the AAD. sewerage, water production and waste management personnel. With a background in mechanical services, Price took systems, Price also provides advice and support to the The Antarctic Division manages Australia’s scientific his first trip to Antarctica’s Davis Station where he spent various science programs, as well as being involved in presence in the Antarctic region and enjoys close fifteen months as the maintenance and construction recruitment and project management. www.hvacrnation.com.au September 2007 HVAC&R Nation      11 cover story

Photograph by Frederique Olivier © Commonwealth of Australia

Australia maintains three stations on the Antarctic In Antarctica, however, pre-insulated, metal-clad and continent – Mawson, Davis and Casey, as well as a sub- heat-traced pipes (heat trace is a thin thermostatically Antarctic station on Macquarie Island, about 1500km controlled electric element located between the south east of Hobart. Each station is used for scientific pipe and insulation) service the buildings, with the research, although the science varies from station to heating water, potable water and fire water continually station, with geology, biology, botany, glaciology, upper circulated to prevent freezing. atmospheric studies, weather and tidal observations, Price says missing your family and friends is the biggest and human impact to name just a few. sacrifice one has to make, but communication is very “I’ve spent three summers and one winter at Macquarie good with satellite phones, email and webcam readily Island, with my most recent trip as Station Leader and available. He corresponded regularly with his children’s plumber, which lasted 12 months,” says Price. school during projects on Antarctica which he found satisfying. “Macquarie Island is a fantastic place with lots of wildlife, and it doesn’t get the extremes of cold and darkness that the Antarctic continent does. I enjoyed the challenge of the job and working and living with a small On the ice — Casey group of expeditioners with various professions and Paul Baker is one of two mechanical plumbers currently backgrounds.” Tim Price at Macquarie Island based at Casey Station on the Antarctic continent, Macquarie Island’s plumbing and mechanical systems where outside temperatures can plummet to -37°C and are similar to those used on mainland Australia, with the “It’s an efficient system. For the fuel burnt, you get back winds can reach speeds of 176km/hr. major difference being that most of the buildings are electricity and heating,” says Price, adding that as with With 25 years in the plumbing industry working in many heated by radiators and fan coil units supplied by water most systems, the pipework is insulated both inside the facets of the trade, both in a domestic and commercial/ heated by the engines that generate electricity. buildings and outside. industrial capacity, this is Baker’s second winter working in Antarctica with the AAD. He arrived at Casey Station at the end of October 2006. “The attraction primarily was to visit and live in a place that is largely untouched by humans, and to contribute and take part in a small, very isolated community, as well as to learn more and build on my trade skills,” he explains. Baker says arriving on the continent after two weeks’ sailing aboard Aurora Australis, through the Southern Ocean, and not seeing another vessel was an amazing experience. “The first time on the Antarctic plateau is memorable – looking around 360 degrees and seeing blue ice and snow to the horizon. It still feels special.” Baker says his primary role as mechanical plumber at Casey is to keep the heating going. Somehow, you get the impression he isn’t joking. He and his workmates also service, maintain and operate all the associated plumbing systems on the station, as well as implementing new projects and system upgrades, Warren Marnell (left) and Cal Young (right) while providing support to the science projects.

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© Chris Wilson/Australian Antarctic Division

These systems include four separate HVAC plants; a buildings where it flows through a secondary plate “For me, one of the attractions of working down here is sewage waste treatment plant; all LPG gas systems for heat exchanger. This then circulates through standard the variation and range of the work. Each day, water is the industrial kitchen, and heating and cooking facilities fan coil units, FUCs and hydronic radiators. When more pumped from a melt lake to supply the station’s potable in the field huts; as well as medical gases; eight oil-fired heat is required, a bank of five diesel-fired boilers cut in,” water needs. This is the only thing that is constant.” boilers; the potable water pumping and filtration; air explains Baker. This water is pumped into three cast iron water tanks, compressors; fire sprinkler systems; medical and science The secondary HHW is dosed with around 50% glycol through a ‘melt bell’ submerged in a frozen lake. This autoclaves; incineration plant; a small osmosis filter and because the fresh air intake passes over a pre heat copper vessel has hot water circulating through it in a all the associated plumbing systems for the above. coil, and the liquid in this coil needs to stay fluid at circuit that also flows through a heat exchanger, and “The main power house diesel generator sets supply temperatures of up to minus 40°C. Similarly, all the forms a body of water under the ice. the bulk of the heating for the site services heating pipework which passes between buildings, SSHHW, hot water (SSHHW). The engine coolant flows through sewage, fire services and potable water is electrically The ‘melt bell’ has a 50mm check valve attached and plate heat exchangers and is pumped to the various heat traced to stop them from freezing. when water is pumped to the tank the circulating pump is turned off, valves inside the tank house are switched and a helical rotor pump is turned on. The check valve opens and water is drawn from the lake to fill the tanks.

Baker says the challenges of working and living in one of the world’s most hostile environments are many and varied, but the one major challenge is the need to improvise.

“While maintenance is similar to systems in Australia, more careful monitoring is required because if a system crashes here it’s generally much harder to get back on line than it would be in Australia. When the gear or spare part you need is 2000km away, you can find yourself having to adapt a certain piece of equipment or invent something to fit the bill,” he said.

“The weather too, can be challenging. When wind speeds reach 80 knots (150km/hr) and above, it is not safe to walk around outside.”

On the ice — Mawson Cal Young, one of the AAD’s more experienced Antarctic expeditioners, arrived at Mawson Station late last year, and is due to change over with the new incoming plumbers this November.

One of the lucky few, he is able to enjoy the experience Paul Baker of working and living in Antarctica with his wife, www.hvacrnation.com.au September 2007 HVAC&R Nation      13 cover story

Insulated heat traced site services Paul Baker Overlooking the Antarctic station — © Peter Campbell/Australian Antarctic Division who works as a Bureau of Meteorology engineering thermospheric wind in the upper atmosphere and the technician on the station. collection of meteorological data. Initially, applicants are based in Hobart for training. Short-term plumbers who would be stationed in Young says he was first drawn to working with the AAD “If you can imagine, Mawson is similar in design to a very Antarctica during summer for three to six months after seeing an advertisement in the paper. Already small town,” explains Young. “It has its own water supply undertake a three week training program. considering a change, he applied for the position. system which is a reticulated main returning to the tank house via the fire sprinkler service, and is heated to “Those seeking long-term positions for winter stints of He has since progressed to the position of plumber, reduce the chance of freezing.” twelve to fifteen months require up to three months building services supervisor and deputy station leader “Each of the buildings has a sewer holding tank. This training. Airfares, accommodation and transport are all for this ‘tour of duty’. waste is then pumped to the waste treatment building provided while training in Hobart,” explains Price. “I wanted to do something different and explore different where it is processed. Our site services are above ground The training for short-term plumbers involves first aid, avenues of my trade to acquire more experience,” insulated pipes which convey the services between field training, asbestos awareness, occupational health says Young, who forms part of the Mawson Station each of the buildings.” and safety, manual handling, safe slinging and equity maintenance team along with two diesel mechanics, For Young, working outside in the cold conditions and diversity. two electricians, a carpenter and fellow plumber. proves challenging. He says if you don’t take advantage The AAD’s smallest research station on the Antarctic of good weather, the time it takes to complete jobs can continent, the fourteen expeditioners stationed at be long and becomes frustrating. He also cites the time Mawson during winter conduct a range of activities, away from family and friends as a sacrifice. including geometric measurements of the Earth’s “Once you are here, there is no way you can get back C070205_HVACR. pdf Page 1 17/ 8/ 07, 2:58 PM magnetic field; penguin monitoring; measurements of home until the ship comes back down to pick you up. There are many day to day challenges, but you seem to get over them comfortably enough.” With living environments more luxurious compared to many years ago when Australian’s first started going to Interested in working and living in a unique environment where all accommodation, Antarctica, Young and meals, tools, work clothes and cold weather requirements are provided at no cost, his fellow expeditioners together with an attractive salary package? live in spacious, air Tim Price Do you have a current Trade Certificate? conditioned buildings For long-term applicants, training is much more with spectacular views of extensive covering many facets of work and life in the ice shelves and icebergs. Antarctic including first aid, waste treatment plant “My first impression on operation, water and air balancing, boiler maintenance, arriving to Antarctica fire extinguisher maintenance, asbestos awareness, was one of amazement, height safety, construction safety, forklift operation, and it hasn’t changed,” loader training, equity and diversity, fire fighting, manual he says. handling, electronic maintenance management, field training and search and rescue.

“For me, the challenges and adventure are part of the Calling all attraction, along with living and working with people of Do you have experience in any of the following areas? plumbers various professions and backgrounds,” says Price. General plumbing, oil fired boilers, centrifugal pumps, air handling plants, Every year, the AAD “The Australian Antarctic Division offers fantastic kitchen equipment, LPG systems, fire sprinkler systems, sewage treatment, recruits people from opportunities. Where else would you receive extensive medical gases, water corrosion treatment, HHW systems, heat exchangers and all trades for a range training, a trip to Antarctica or Macquarie Island air/water balancing. of positions. However, – including all meals, accommodation, work and cold- weather clothing with tools provided on station – and For application information visit the Australian Antarctic Division Website: in recent times the get paid an attractive salary?” s jobs.antarctica.gov.au Division has had difficulty recruiting For further information, contact Tim Price on 03 6232 3236 or [email protected] suitably qualified plumbers For those interested in applying for upcoming with mechanical positions with the Australian Antarctic Division, services experience visit the AAD website www.aad.gov.au or either in maintenance or construction, as well alternatively, Tim Price welcomes those interested as sanitary plumbers to contact him directly on 0400 696 874. hmaC070205 for project work.

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