Construction of Tara Polar Station
Where is Tara Polar Station?The construction of Tara Polar Station started in Cherbourg
After 5 years of design, Tara Ocean Foundation program moved from plans to reality. Construction of the new vessel designed for Arctic observation and scientific research began. The shipyard has been entrusted to Constructions mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) in Cherbourg.
Find out more
The first piece of the future drifting polar base was laid.
The moon-pool, the central part of the construction, was on the assembly table. This first symbolic moment confirmed the progress of the building site!
Prince Albert II of Monaco and Olivier Poivre d’Arvor visited the construction site.
On Friday, September 29 his Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, French Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues visited the shipyard.
The Polar station is taking shape
Construction of Tara Polar Station is progressing on the Cherbourg construction site.
Tara Polar Station: Studying the Arctic to step up research on climate change and biodiversity.
“The Arctic Ocean recorded one of the lowest sea ice thickness at the end of winter. Time is running ut for its largely unknown biodiversity.”
— alerted Chris Bowler, CNRS research director at the Ecole normale superieure (ENS° and chairman of the scientific committee of Tara Ocean Foundation.
Timelapse of the first months of construction
After fitting the assembly table and the moon pool, the central piece of the construction, the 2cm-thick hull is being assembled. A real technical challenge is being met!
The power of teamwork
The Tara Ocean Foundation teams had the opportunity to discover the Tara Polar Station construction site at Constructions Mécaniques de Cherbourg. It was a very inspiring moment. The team is more than ever ready to expand its actions: Tara + Tara Polar Station.
Assembly and welding of the hull
All the metal plating for the hull’s exterior skin is assembled. More than 6,000 pieces are needed for the hull. Welding is almost complete.
First geode demouldings
The first two exterior elements of the geode have been demoulded. Welding is in progress. The assembly table for the entire geode is in place, along with the first compartments.
The geode is assembled!
During March, the geode’s metal sheets were assembled. The geode is the upper part of the polar station. It will house the kitchen, saloon, wheelhouse, offices, banya (sauna) and infirmary.
Work continues in the geode
Installation of insulation, stairs, cable trays and pipe supports.
Hull welding
All the outer sheets of the boat’s hull have been received and welded. They are being assembled as we go along. The reinforcements are currently being welded, as are the main deck components.
Assembling of the hull
The CMN shipyard has begun assembling the 6 blocks that make up the upper part of the hull onto the lower part. Once the upper and lower sections have been assembled and welded, the hull of Tara Polar Station will be complete.
Geode installation on the central upper deck
Isolation work continues. The windows have been pierced, and the glass installation will follow.
Construction : 3 major challenges
The hull is complete
The last block has been installed and the hull is complete. The upper and main decks front and back, as well as the back keel, have been installed. The hull has been placed on rails and the table on which it used to rest has been removed.
Assembling the geode and hull
The geode and hull have finally been brought together after months of meticulous preparation! This crucial step marks a major turning point in the construction of this unique polar station.
End of phase 1 of the construction and exit of the hangar
The construction of our polar base has accelerated over the last few months. The first part of the construction is complete: after assembly of the hull and geode, Tara Polar Station was taken out of the hangar this week.
Features
A drifting observatory and scientific laboratory
Once locked in sea ice, Tara Polar Station’s purpose will be to strengthen French and international research on the Arctic environment, among the most extreme on our planet, to better understand the impact of climate change on biodiversity and the adaptive abilities of endemic species.
360° view of Tara Polar Station
3D views of Tara Polar Station, a 27-m drifting polar base, designed in collaboration with architect Olivier Petit. This “North Pole ISS” will be able to withstand temperatures between -20° and -52°C . The station will host a crew of 12 in winter and up to 18 in summer.
Focus on the construction of Tara Polar Station
The drifting scientific polar base, Tara Polar Station, will embark scientists from all over the world on multiple successive drifts until 2045. Climatologists, biologists, physicists, glaciologists, oceanographers, artists, physicians, journalists and sailors will collaborate and live together aboard Tara Polar Station to conduct observations and in situ measurements in temperatures ranging between -20° and -52°C during the polar night in winter.
They talk about us
