Strange vessel arrives in Iceland
Tara Polar Station sailing through a channel in the ice. Photo/Tara Ocean Foundation/Maéva Bardy
An unusual ship has docked in Ísafjörður: the floating research station Tara Polar Station , which has been undergoing trials in the Arctic Ocean, arrived on Saturday. Ísafjörður residents will not be the only ones to see the odd-looking vessel; according to a written statement from the Tara Ocean Foundation, which operates the station, Tara Polar Station is scheduled to arrive in Reykjavík on the morning of September 3. It will remain there until October 20 before setting sail for Finland.
The Tara Ocean Foundation is a French non-profit research organization. It operates several other scientific vessels worldwide, with Tara Polar Station dedicated to research in the Arctic. Among the foundation’s goals are studying the impacts of sea ice melt and pollution on fragile Arctic ecosystems, monitoring fish stocks, and researching marine biodiversity.
During the research expedition, Tara Polar Station will remain mostly stationary in the ice. Photo/Tara Ocean Foundation/Maéva Bardy
Withstands –52°C
Tara Polar Station has a striking design, as photos show. According to the foundation’s website, it measures 26 meters in length, 16 meters in width, and has a draft of 2.3 meters. Fully loaded, it weighs 416 tons and offers 400 square meters of living space for up to 18 people.
The station is built to allow scientists to conduct in-depth Arctic research. It houses both wet and dry laboratories, and has a specially designed opening in its hull, giving researchers direct access to the sea for deploying drones and collecting samples. It is engineered to withstand ice pressure and extreme cold of up to –52°C.
The expedition members witnessed many sights during the journey, including a polar bear on the ice. Photo/Tara Ocean Foundation/Maéva Bardy
First research expedition in 2026
The current voyage serves as a testing mission before the first official research expedition, planned for next year. That expedition is expected to last 18 months, including 14 months drifting in sea ice. Tara Ocean plans to use the station for ten expeditions between 2025 and 2045. Scientists from around the world will participate, with the station expected to remain frozen into the sea ice most of the time while gathering vital data.
The Tara Ocean Foundation will also take part in the Arctic Circle Assembly, held at Harpa in Reykjavík October 16–18, where Romain Troublé, the foundation’s executive director, will be among the speakers.
Tara Polar Station in Ísafjörður. The Ísafjörður Harbor posted this photo of the research station on social media today. Photo/Ísafjörður Harbour
The research team of Tara Polar Station. Photo/Tara Ocean Foundation/Maéva Bardy
Tara Polar Station is both a ship and a research station, built in Lorient, France. Photo/Tara Ocean Foundation
