The 40th Indian Scientific Expedition departed for Antarctica from Mormugao Port, Goa, recently, with 43 members onboard. After about 22 years, the Antarctica expedition is procuring fuel from Indian Oil. Highlighting the pivotal role of National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in this vital mission, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Director, said, "Polar regions are crucially important in answering key questions about the global climate change, its contribution towards global sea-level rise, the background aerosol properties, variability in the sea ice cover and phenomenon like Antarctic haze and ozone concentrations.  Attempts to address some of these issues are helping in mitigating several important problems concerning human life and well-being.
Javed Beg, Group Director, NCPOR on this occasion said, "Every expedition is different and presents diverse challenges, but the 40th expedition is unique, as it takes place amid the coronavirus pandemic with innumerable logistical challenges.  The expedition, apart from its scientific mission, shall carry out the humanitarian responsibility of relieving the 48-strong winter crew from their 15-month tenure, while resupplying the bases with food, fuel, provisions and spares for operations and maintenance of life support systems".
The country's major fuel supplier, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. has supplied Jet A1 fuel, lubes and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) as a bouquet offering for the prestigious 40th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (ISEA) mission. The unique feature of this supply is that the aviation fuel Jet A1 has been supplied in bulk and packed form to a non-aviation customer and is delivered to an ocean-going vessel for the first time. The fuel will be used for aviation support and power generation units as well as in snowmobiles and for the voyage itself. Till the last expedition, fuel was being obtained from outside the country.
India has two stations in the polar continent of Antarctica - Maitri and Bharati, which are being operated under NCPOR, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India. The 40th ISEA has a 43-member team of scientists, engineers, doctors, and technicians, led by three polar veterans- Dr. Yogesh Ray from National Centre for Polar & Ocean Research; Atul Suresh Kulkarni from Indian Institute of Geomagnetism; and Ravindra Santosh More from India Meteorological Department- who, with their different roles and responsibilities of managing the voyage operations. Bharati base operations and Maitri base operations, share a common goal of rewriting the success story of the Indian Antarctic Programme under this year's special circumstances. Cautious steps have been taken to avoid contraction and spread of Covid-19 on board the expedition vessel and the virus reaching Antarctica.
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