Cruises, penguins and absolute silence: the adventure of a Portuguese man who goes to work at the most remote post office on the planet

INTERVIEW || For the next five months, and in extreme weather conditions, Portuguese Tiago Figueiredo will work at the most remote post office on the planet, in Port Lockroy, in Antarctica. Continues as part of a British scientific mission

This experience is completely different from your work as a business consultant. What led you to accept this challenge in Antarctica?

This experience is actually different to my normal job, but I have been involved in opening stores for the last 12 years, so there are some transferable skills. There are two main reasons that led me to apply for this position. The first has to do with location and the challenge inherent in remoteness and limited access to normal everyday comforts, disconnection. The second reason has to do with the work he does [trata-se de uma organização filantrópica britânica responsável por vários locais na Antártida – incluindo Port Lockroy, uma antiga base militar estabelecida em 1944 durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial – e que é responsável por esta missão científica]. The Trust maintains and preserves Antarctic heritage, keeping it accessible in such extreme conditions. It’s a huge task, one that I’m very proud to be part of.

His interest in Antarctica began with a fascination with Portuguese discoveries and British explorers. How did this interest transform into a concrete desire to live this experience?

Yes, in fact, until I started reading about the heroic era of Antarctic exploration about 10 years ago, I had little knowledge of it – I was fascinated by the fact that there was such recent exploration, so recent that we have photographs, some films and, of course, large written diaries and evidence from those days. At Port Lockroy we maintain scientific equipment used at the site when it was a scientific base during the 1940s and 50s. This includes the ionosonde (or “Beastie”) that was used to make the first measurements of the upper atmosphere, research that led to the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer in the 1980s.

The opportunity arose after his wife sent him the job advertisement. What was your reaction?

I was very surprised that it was recruiting people from all types of backgrounds, and not specifically scientists, zoologists and teams with previous experience. Part of the allure of Port Lockroy is the fact that a different team is sent out every year, allowing people like me to have an unforgettable experience.

How did you prepare for this unique experience (physical, psychological, logistical)? What survival and first aid training did you receive?

I always try to stay active, so I haven’t increased my physical training much. Personally, I had more than a year in advance of this project, so I had a lot of time to prepare myself psychologically, but also to get my work and family life organized. The logistics are prepared by the team and they were brilliant in organizing everything, from transport to equipment, training and support. The team received training in survival and first aid, from simple treatment of wounds to stitches, fractures, injections and cardiac massage – it is quite complete and we all feel prepared for any eventuality. We also received training in artefact handling, as we will be managing the museum in Port Lockroy, and Amanda Barry will be especially responsible for this area. The penguin colony is very independent and we are all looking forward to seeing the eggs and chicks at the end of the year, eventually helping Alette Kattenberg to count them and compare the data with previous seasons.

What are the main challenges you foresee living in Port Lockroy, especially with limited access to water, power and communications?

I’m not expecting any problems. We’ll have to adapt, of course, but as a group I think we’re all happy to switch off and not be available all the time, so keeping our phones away is actually a benefit of the project! We test booking communications during the season to ensure we can contact you in the event of an emergency using satellite phones. There’s no television or enough bandwidth to stream movies, but there is a rich library and lots of games and, most of all, unique views of the outdoors that I intend to make the most of.

How are you dealing with being away from your family, especially during the holiday season?

I’m going to miss them over Christmas – I know I have some presents to unwrap and I also left a special box at home! As a team, let’s try to make Christmas on Goudier Island as homely as possible!

Can you describe a typical day at the world’s most remote post office? Is there any moment that you consider particularly special?

Our days will be very full. We will welcome guests to the island, who all want to send a postcard home and visit the museum. The nights will be very busy, in our Nissen Hut (that’s the name of the accommodation building), and the whole team comes together to stamp the cards and letters, which are collected and delivered all over the world. This evening meeting, after dinner, where we sit down and share a task, will, I am sure, be very special and create bonds.

Part of the mission involves interacting with cruise visitors. How do you explain the history of the island and the importance of conserving Antarctica?

It’s extremely important – getting the message across, explaining what brings us to the continent and why the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust needs to raise funds and continue its activities is essential to us. There is no way to replace the huts and historic sites, they were built with basic materials, by people who live in extreme conditions, and represent the living history of the continent. Port Lockroy was, in many ways, the birthplace of British Antarctic science, from ionospheric measurements to the observation and monitoring of local wildlife.

What are the things you’re most looking forward to experiencing?

So many things! I think that the arrival and the first landing on the island will provoke a great sensory explosion. I look forward to hearing the sounds of wildlife, birds and penguins, but also whales swimming past. The fact that we have 24 hours of daylight is also incredible, so no matter what time we arrive on the first day, I hope to see Bransfield House and our accommodation (the Nissen Hut) in the distance – and get a sense of the size of the island.

What items did you bring in your suitcase for this adventure and why these in particular?

Wet weather gear, cold weather gear, lots of socks and good base layers – and good ground coffee on top of that! Christmas presents from the family and a lot of electronic equipment that we depend on when we are on the island.

Is there anything in particular you hope to see or photograph?

We hope to reenact some photographs from the 40s, which is always a great challenge and a team activity. It’s always a great challenge and a team activity. This also allows us to research the archives and highlight the need to continue to preserve the region and historic sites. Personally, capturing the first calf of the season, the calves’ first dive and, with luck, some humpback whales in the bay!

As the first Portuguese person to join a UKAHT mission, what does this opportunity mean to you? How do you think this experience will influence your personal or professional future?

I will work on a project related to heritage and conservation, and being in Antarctica, intrinsically linked to the environment. These are three areas that interest me personally, so I hope to continue developing experiences and skills in this field.

What lessons do you hope to learn from this experience, both personally and professionally?

I applied for this job because I believe I have something to give, a real contribution to this season’s goals – that’s what I hope to feel at the end of the project! And, at the same time, prove that we can always pursue our dreams or goals!

When you return, how do you plan to make up for the time you were away from your family?

We don’t have any plans yet, but we’re definitely going to spend a lot of time together doing the things we love to do as a family!

What advice would you give to someone dreaming of doing something similar?

If you are passionate about something and dream of facing a certain challenge, prepare for it, study it and never lose hope – chase your dreams!

Is there anything you would like readers to know about Antarctica or your work there?

It’s still too early to talk about this, but I’m sure that in a month’s time I’ll be in a good position to answer this question!