SPENDING the festive season on-board a polar mission ship in Antarctica is "the ultimate Christmas present", one Scottish sailor says.
Launchman Scott Thornton, from Dumbarton, is to work across the festive period near the South Pole on the maiden voyage of the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The 37-year-old helped dock the state-of-the-art ship at Rothera Research Station on Friday as it supports cutting-edge climate science.
Thornton won't get to sit down with his parents and brother at home, but he does plan to send them texts if the wi-fi is working. He said: "Getting to sail on RRS Sir David Attenborough’s maiden voyage to Antarctica is the ultimate Christmas present. It’s like the golden ticket."
He went on: "Not everyone can say that they’ve been to Antarctica – it’s a real box ticker.
"Almost every day on ship is a working day so the chances are that we’ll be working on Christmas Day but we have plans to hold a 'Fakemas' on another day.
"We’ll have a Christmas dinner at some point and we’ve all organised a secret Santa. I’m in anticipation to see what I might get.
“The shipmate I’ve drawn really liked a knife I had a couple of trips ago and tried to order one, but it was not in stock. I’ve managed to source one so I’m looking forward to seeing him unwrap it."
Thornton's duties include operating the ship's cranes and driving and maintaining workboat Erebus and cargo tender Terror, which are used to approach the Bird Island and Signy research stations where the water is too shallow for RRS Sir David Attenborough.
The much-loved naturalist visited the vessel himself as part of a send-off for crew in London before they departed on their seven-week journey and recorded tannoy announcements for the crew including "no smoking on deck" and, for crossing the equator, "King Neptune has been sighted on deck".
The £200 million ship is part of a major UK Government polar infrastructure investment programme.
Minister for the Polar Regions, Amanda Milling said: “This magnificent ship is something everyone across the United Kingdom can take immense pride in. I’d like to wish everyone on board for its maiden voyage a Merry Christmas. The UK Government’s commitment to further investment in our Antarctic scientific infrastructure is putting British scientists at the forefront of polar research, as we lead the world on getting to grips with climate change.
"The UK’s presidency of COP26 in Glasgow last month, and our ongoing investment in science, demonstrates our determination to drive forward a greener future to save our planet."
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