Anatomy of an Antarctica Convoy- II (The preparations)

The preparations for the convoy were extensive. The vehicles needed to be in top notch condition for the strenuous journey on the vast ice sheets. Spares had to be carefully listed out. Each screw could prove vital. The convoy generator- Jeevan Jyoti was serviced. Food rations for upto one month were carefully stocked. This was done keeping in mind the omnipresent risk of blizzards halting the convoy enroute for weeks. Apart fromraw material, packaged food prepared by Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore were supplied to us. Namkeens, sweets, biscuits, cold drinks etc wee also stored in the Banjara. LPG cylinders were a standard inclusion in our inventory. The preparations were completed one day before the convoy departed.
On the night prior to the departure of the convoy, the rest of the team members prepared food packets for the onward journey, and filled water cans. The food packets contained boiled eggs, paranthas and alu sabzi, along with freshly made besan ki barfi or ladoo. Apart from these, each individual carried food according to his own taste and liking.
The convoys departed at 4 am sharp after a short briefing by the convoy chief. The vehicles proceeded like a train in a specific order. Each vehicle stuck to its position in the train. The 1st vehicle tugged the Banjara- the living module and the second, the Jeevan Jyoti. The rest of the vehicles tugged trailers with or without load.
The convoy train slowly wound its way out or the rocky Schirmacher Oasis. Once we reached Dozer Point, where the continental ice cap started, the sped increased considerably. We then continued straight to Shivling, where we ascended the ice cap, took a U turn and proceeded towards Sankalp Point. At Sankalp, Banjara and Jeevan Jyoti were towed. Food packets were also distributed here. Sometimes trailers were left here before hand and hence were hooked to the Pisten Bullys here. From here on, we were out of the limits of Maitri.

Anatomy of an Antarctica Convoy- I (An Introduction)

One can safely say that the convoys are the heart and soul of a wintering over team in Antarctica, especially at an inland station. Since we were 100 km away from the coast, the same held true for Maitri as well.
The purpose of the convoys is to bring the winter supplies to the station from the coast, where the ship offloads them during the summers. They are run during the winters only, because during the summers, crevasses and water channels open up, making it difficult and dangerous for the snow vehicles to negotiate the vast ice fields.
Because of the extreme climatic conditions and inhospitable terrain on which the convoys are run, they are the most daunting and challenging tasks of the expedition. This is one event that consumes most of our energies and time during the winters, and are of utmost importance for the survival of wintering teams in Antarctica. Our top priority is successful and uneventful completion of the convoys.
At Maitri, the convoys usually start by the end of the February, after the first winter blizzard, that fills up the icy moraines and fissures formed on the route due to the summer ice melt. This usually coincides with the departure of the summer team.
The snow vehicle used at Maitri are the Pisten Bullys. They tow the cargo on trailers. There are 8-9 vehicles and 8-9 personnel including a doctor (that was me). Each person was in charge of one vehicle throughout the expedition. Each convoy team member has a specific role. One person is designated as the convoy chief, one person is the vehicle electrician, one crane operator, and the rest are vehicle mechanics. In our expedition, these personnel were either from the Border Roads Organisation or ex servicemen with previous Antarctica experience. Occasionally, some scientists also accompanied us for data collection on the ice shelf.