Unloading a year's food in the Antarctic

A 53 Strong NZDF Army team are working in Antarctica during the annual ship resupply of Scott Base and McMurdo Station. Photo / NZDF

New Zealand Defence Force personnel have worked around the clock in constant daylight to unload a 12-month supply of food and materials for Antarctic researchers.

In a "slick" eight day operation, the 53-strong team from Linton and Burnham military camps unloaded 389 crates from the ship Ocean Giant, including food, vehicles, scientific equipment and general supplies for the next 12 months.

The team then reloaded the vessel with 550 crates of waste, scientific research and equipment from the previous year.

There were more crates to load on to the ship for the return journey because poor weather in February last year caused the ice pier to break up, forcing the Ocean Giant to leave Antarctica before all the crates were loaded.

The ship offload team worked in 24-hour daylight to unload and reload the ship, with the team made up of stevedores, riggers, general assistants and drivers.

The majority of the supplies are bound for the United States Antarctic Programme at McMurdo Station.

The United States marine terminal supervisor on the ice, Michael Davis, was full of praise for the Kiwi crew.

"The NZDF team are probably the most enthusiastic people I know, and they're definitely the most fit. They do push-ups for every container they unload," he said.

"We can't keep up with them, they are absolutely a notch above."

Antarctica New Zealand would receive 31 crates, the NZDF said, including a much anticipated excavator, Land Cruiser and two Hagglund all-terrain vehicles for Scott Base, home to New Zealand's national Antarctic programme.

Two crates contained the tools and construction supplies for the upgrade of the Hillary Field Centre.

NZDF senior national officer Major Brett Grieve has been working with Antarctica New Zealand on the ice since September and welcomed the arrival of the ship offload and light engineering teams.

"The Kiwis arrived with a positive attitude and quickly separated into day and night shifts," he said.

"The teams are working well together under the various section commanders. It's a privilege to work alongside them."

There are now 101 NZDF personnel on the continent, and 23 supporting operations in Christchurch.