Station Officer Josh Vermuelen leading Antarctica traverse

Fire and Emergency’s Josh Vermuelen is leading an important scientific mission in Antarctica.

The Woolston Station Officer has been seconded to Antarctica New Zealand to lead a 1600-kilometre traverse across the sea ice to support scientific investigations into climate change.

The team are over halfway through finding a new route around the crevasses and at the end will be creating a new temporary airstrip to support the science operations.

Josh has been involved with Antarctica NZ since 2018, predominantly with field training, but also as a fire trainer at Scott Base.

He arrived at Scott Base in late October to prepare for the traverse.