Vagabond (TerreAdelie2014)

Sea ice safety training

Eric Brossier — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:00:00 GMT

A training day led by Eric Brossier, organized at the request of the TAAF (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) and the IPEV (French Polar Institute) for personnel working on sea ice in the vicinity of the Dumont d'Urville station: safety on sea ice during scientific work or light logistical operations.

Sea Ice safety course

Eric Brossier — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMT

A one-day training course by Eric Brossier organized for TAAF (French Southern and Antarctic Territories) and IPEV (French Polar Institute) for personnel working on sea ice in the vicinity of the Dumont d'Urville station: safety on sea ice during scientific field work or light logistical operations.

On Antarctic sea ice

Eric Brossier — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 08:00:00 GMT

Every year, L'Astrolabe is doing five trips (R0 to R4) from Hobart harbour (Tasmania, Australia), to Dumont d'Urville station (Terre Adelie, Antarctic), to supply IPEV French missions. For about three years, ice didn't break up around the station, and the ship cannot dock. Unloading fuel has to be done via the ice, something new over there. This is to assist the new logistics that I went to the other side of the world! Before driving heavy convoys on sea ice, I took part into reconnaissance and did ice thickness measurements between L'Astrolabe and the station, with an EM31, the same instrument that we have been using for about ten years in the Arctic. On November 1st, it was not possible for L'Astrolabe to approach less than 75km from the continent, but the supply had to begin as soon as possible, tanks were getting low. See pictures.

Setting foot in Antarctica, discovering Dumont d'Urville station, meeting up again with albatrosses, getting to know the emperors and Adelie penguins, embarking on L'Astrolabe (which sailed the Northeast passage eleven years before Vagabond), helping the French scientific missions in Antarctica, travelling around the world ... what a trip!

The antipodes! by Eric on board L'Astrolabe

Eric Brossier — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT

15 years ago, on Oct 28, 1999, I bought Vagabond. Since then, my brother Piem has been looking after our website, to share our stories with everyone. Today is also Piem's birthday, and he is alone on board for nearly two months. Looking after Vagabond while the sea is about to freeze. To celebrate this big day, I couldn't be any further, as we are entering pack ice in the Antarctic, on board L'Astrolabe!