4 Weeks in the Arctic Sea Ice: First Test Drift of Tara Polar Station
In June 2025, Tara Polar Station left Lorient to head for the High North. For 4 weeks, the drifting polar station carried out its first short test drift in the heart of the Arctic sea ice. Designed as a unique drifting research station, she deliberately let herself be trapped in the ice in order to test her behavior, equipment, scientific protocols, and autonomous life in this extreme environment. Between encounters with Arctic wildlife and technical adjustments, this first expedition brings us closer to future scientific exploration in the central Arctic Ocean.
Departing on June 1 from Lorient, her home port, on her very first voyage north, Tara Polar Station made a stopover in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, until July 4. Just enough time to embark a new crew and artist Nicolas Floc’h before heading further into the Arctic.
Trapped in the Arctic Sea Ice: Meeting the Polarstern
Tara Polar Station rencontre le Polarstern
On July 6, the station met the German icebreaker Polarstern at a pre-arranged rendezvous point to open the way into the ice. At the start of its summer mission in the region, the Alfred-Wegener-Institute vessel escorted Tara Polar Station for a day through the sea ice before she began to drift on her own. A magical and emotional moment for the foundation’s teams, alone for the first time in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean.
The crew gradually discovered how the vessel reacts in this unique environment, and the breathtaking beauty of the central Arctic Ocean.
Following in the Polarstern’s wake was no easy task. The icebreaker pushed aside immense flows of water and ice, forcing Tara Polar Station to stay close behind, her captain Martin fully concentrated on her trajectory. This escort marked the transition into the true test drift.
For Luc, the chief engineer, this was a completely new experience. Accustomed to avoiding ice, he now faced the reality of a ship deliberately frozen in place, surrounded by blocks of ice weighing several tons, crashing against the hull. Every sound and impact resonated through the station: a full-scale test for the vessel’s structure and machinery.
How do you operate a ship in such extreme conditions?
Go behind the scenes at Tara Polar Station with Luc Airiau, chief engineer.
Start of test drift
From Longyearbyen, the crew had already enjoyed the spectacular landscapes of Svalbard’s fjords and glaciers. But behind the Polarstern, the adventure took on a whole new dimension: the grand departure for the Arctic drift. Between excitement, apprehension, and wonder, everyone realized that the expedition was entering its most authentic phase: letting themselves be carried away by the ice.
As the days pass aboard the station
Immerse yourself in the daily life of sailors through their real-time accounts aboard Tara Polar Station:
From :
80° 24,5’N
010°13’E
At sea, or almost…
“Sailing” with Tara Polar Station would be almost nonsensical, given that its primary purpose is to “drift” for 20 years…
Yet that is exactly what we have been doing for the past 24 hours, heading due west, skirting as close as possible to the pack ice, taking advantage of a lull to reposition ourselves and return to the heart of this ice field which, in everyone’s opinion, rejected us far too early. This newfound momentum has delighted our entire small community, and surely even more so the sailors who, like me, savor these moments on watch, torn between the excitement of discovering this incredible vessel and the underlying tension that is never far away when a bank of fog or a barrier of ice suddenly looms before us…”, Daniel Cron, First Officer.
“It was a restless night. We could feel the boat rocking, even though we had moored it to the ice floe yesterday. I woke up around two o’clock, then again at four. Unable to sleep, I went outside to see what was happening, as it was obvious that something was going on. And there it was: our ice floe, which had seemed quite solid at first glance when we arrived, had broken up in several places. New cracks and channels separated smaller ice floes, which are now drifting away. Only a piece of the ice floe we had moored remained.” Timo Palo, ice floe specialist.
August 2
“When we wake up, we discover a landscape of ice that is younger than the night before. It is flatter and more uniform. Drifting along like this and constantly changing scenery, it feels like having a garden with ever-changing shapes. We fall asleep in front of a plain or a marsh dotted with sky-blue puddles. The next day, we find ourselves in a chaotic pile of blocks, sometimes several meters high. A hill has appeared in front of the lounge, and a menhir or giant mushroom has sprouted up at the rear. By midday, everything has been leveled and flattened again…” Luc Airiau, Chief Engineer.
Living and working aboard a drifting polar station
10 tons of food: the essential role of the ship’s cook
On board the Tara Polar Station, Sophie Bin, a sailor-cook, juggles several roles. A graduate of the merchant navy, she participates in the station’s maneuvers and tests, while fulfilling her central role: feeding the crew. In a demanding environment, each meal becomes a collective landmark and an essential moment of sharing.
Anticipating 16 months of food self-sufficiency
Logistical preparation is crucial: nearly 10 tons of food supplies are loaded on board, including frozen foods, dry goods, and canned goods. Polar conditions increase energy requirements, so Sophie and Carole must constantly check that stocks are balanced. From the galley to the cold rooms, every corner of the boat is optimized for storing food and equipment.
On a ship where day never turns into night, meals structure time and bring together the crew scattered across the different decks. Thanks to a kitchen equipped with professional appliances, Sophie or Carole transform every moment at the table into a warm break amid the polar landscapes of the Arctic.
Come aboard Tara Polar Station, between Tromsø and Longyearbyen, alongside Sophie, sailor and cook.
Unique biodiversity
The Arctic, a place of life
Contrary to popular belief, the Arctic is not an empty territory. On the contrary, it is teeming with life and unique biodiversity, as well as being home to large indigenous populations around its perimeter.
Beyond the invisible life and ecosystem that we will be able to study during future expeditions, the Arctic Ocean is home to many birds, foxes, and marine animals such as seals and, in particular, polar bears, for which observation protocols will be implemented.
During the few weeks of test drifting, the Tara Polar Station crew had the chance to encounter six of them, and there were undoubtedly more that approached the station. This density can be explained by the fact that the edge of the ice pack is their vital habitat and breeding ground.
“In the distance, we spotted a beautiful bear. We found him again later, approaching with his nose in the wind, moving gracefully and quickly. A few meters from the polar station, he hesitated, expressive. At the edge of a slab of ice, he tilted his enormous head toward the surface of the water, then tapped the small ice floes with his left paw.
It circled us for a while longer before turning back in a hasty retreat. We watched it swim away toward a group of seals basking on the ice. They would disappear long before it arrived, and we thought to ourselves that it must not be easy to find food every day.” Carole Pires, cook and sailor on the second part of the drift.
The reduction in sea ice cover due to global warming is putting pressure on the species. For now, all of the individuals observed appear to be in good shape.
During future drifts, the drifting polar base will provide a better understanding of this Arctic ecosystem so that it can be preserved. It is also an important heritage issue for all countries and people on the planet.
Map of the Tara Polar Station 2025 testing campaign
Medicine in extreme environments: providing care in the heart of the ice floe
Vital protocols in polar conditions
During the test phase, doctor Sophie Six coordinated and validated medical evacuation protocols: abandonment drills, transporting a victim across the ice, and boarding the boat on a stretcher.
The idea was to do everything possible to learn how to evacuate a victim on ice or in a machine.
Sophie Six, doctor
The objective: to test and validate protocols capable of saving a victim in situations where emergency services cannot reach them quickly. Each simulation provides practical training in dealing with the realities of isolation and the fragility of the ice floe.
Significant organizational work was carried out to inventory and supplement medical equipment (medications, dental surgery kit, emergency equipment) in order to guarantee medical autonomy when immediate evacuation is not possible. The purpose of these simulations was to learn how to manage an evacuation on the ice or by machine and to ensure that everyone understands their role in the event of an abandonment.
The polar station drifted between 82 and 83 degrees north, mooring on large waves and discovering impressive formations: hummocks, seal breathing holes, unstable ice floes, and dense, blue ice sculptures. Drifting is unpredictable: moorings are released, acceleration by wind and swell complicates stabilization and anchoring on the ice. The regular presence of polar bears, sometimes very close to the boat, reminds us of the dangerous nature of the environment and the importance of continuous surveillance during outings and dives.
The role of the physician: between logistics and listening
Beyond potential emergencies, the medical mission also relies on preparation: inventorying equipment, managing medications, and assembling surgical kits to ensure autonomy during the long drift. But polar medicine also involves everyday care: treating burns and minor injuries and providing discreet psychological support, which is essential during two months of confinement.
A collective and human adventure
The experiment highlighted the importance of a well-organized collective life. Everyone learns to work as a team, to trust each other, and to adapt to the constraints of the ice. For Sophie, the ship’s doctor, this experience is as much a medical challenge as it is a lesson in solidarity and collective resilience. This test phase was just a preview: the upcoming 16-month drift will plunge the crew into prolonged periods of darkness and isolation, posing heightened human and medical challenges that will require resilience, autonomy, and constant vigilance.
“The Station springs into action in the morning, when it’s time for cleaning duties, divided into teams of two or three. Everyone takes turns, and every day we pamper our little floating refuge. Vacuum cleaners hum on every deck, sponges scrub in the bathrooms. Everyone pitches in, and music plays on every deck.” Luc Airiau, Chief Engineer.
An artist in the heart of the Arctic ice floe
Diving under the ice: a unique first experience
Aboard Tara Polar Station, at 83 degrees north, visual artist Nicolas Floc’h experiences his first dive under the ice. Between apprehension and wonder, he explores an unknown world, where light filters through the ice and every shade of blue or green tells the story of the ocean.
The color of water as a signature of climate
His work consists of capturing, using photos taken in natural light every 5 meters of depth, the chromatic variations of the water up to 100 meters. These “colors columns” become true documentary portraits of the Arctic, bearing witness to the transformations linked to drift, melting sea ice, and phytoplankton blooms.
“I documented the evolution of these landscapes as we progressed, and on the first day of our drift, July 7, I began my work on the color of the water. Each day, depending on our speed, I created one or two columns of color, from the surface down to a depth of 100 meters.
The result is an initial grid of 23 columns, created between the 83rd and 82nd parallels north. It will be very unusual, with the first columns showing a deep arctic blue, then, from the sixth day onwards, phytoplankton blooms begin to appear between 30 and 60 meters deep, gradually rising to the surface before disappearing at the edge of the ice pack. But the most unusual element of this grid will undoubtedly be the ice on the surface. The very first line of the grid will reveal this white and dynamic cover. I should be able to assemble this first series in the next two to three weeks and send it to you.
The Moon Pool is very practical for working on the color of the water.” Nicolas Floch, artist in residence.
An extraordinary human and scientific adventure
Beyond artistic exploration, the experience on board is also a collective adventure: eleven people confined for two months aboard a ship designed to drift with the ice. Between lunar landscapes, fragile ice floes, and the incredible plasticity of the ice, Nicolas emphasizes how this journey is both a scientific immersion and an exceptional human experience.
Testing the drifting polar station: science and technology in extreme conditions
The series of tests carried out in real-life conditions during this drift test made it possible to:
Assess the station’s behavior in ice (installation on the ice floe, mooring, disembarkation, etc.);
Test the deployment kinematics of scientific equipment (opening of the moon pool, immersion of scientific instruments);
Learn to live and work independently in this extreme environment (energy production, waste management, safety procedures, inspection dives under the hull, etc.).
Initial findings from the Tara Polar Station drift test
“These tests are very positive overall. There are still some optimizations to be made and a few issues to be rethought, which is normal for a prototype, but the feedback on its ability to do what it was built for is very good, with some excellent surprises such as its performance in navigation in general, but particularly in ice,” says Martin Hertau, Captain of Tara Polar Station.
Next steps: Tara Polaris One in 2026
Next step: the boat is in Iceland to participate in the Arctic Circle, the largest forum for international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. A second phase of testing will be conducted at the end of the year in Finland in the northern Baltic Sea, this time to test the boat in polar winter conditions.
Goal for 2026: the first scientific drift of Tara Polaris I.
