THE Gould spends a week at Palmer, opening up the Station for the austral summer season when most of the science teams conduct research here.

Day one: The Marine Technicians and Palmer Station staff unload cargo. The onboard crane offloads shipping containers packed with supplies of everything needed on Station - from fresh vegetables to medical equipment.

Fresh vegetables, known at Palmer as "freshies" are eagerly awaited by the winter-overs who have long since run out of produce.

Day two: refueling. A hose transports fuel from the ship to the to station via the gangway. Refueling takes an entire morning and, like most logistical challenges here at Palmer, involves a large team.

During this time, the gangway is closed. If we want to leave the ship, we must leave early and take everything we need for the day.

The following five days: The winter-overs train the summer crew to ensure a smooth transition. Training may involve learning new equipment and skills or checking inventory and paperwork. Everyone participates in drill training.

Palmer Stations' remoteness necessitates a well trained team of fire fighters, Emergency Medical Technicians and search and rescue volunteers. In the event of an emergency, there is no outside aid available, so the station must be self-sufficient.

For the first fire drill of the season, the winter overs shadow their summer selves and they break up into task forces.

Each group has a specific role and is expected to complete their task within a certain time period. They have undergone emergency training back in the United States. It's time to put their skills to the test.

The fire fighting team puts on full fire protective gear and breathing masks. They respond to a simulated emergency: a fire in the garage.

Meanwhile, a hose team mobilizes the necessary equipment to pump and spray sea water from the bay area.

Observers take notes on the response teams' performance. All other station staff muster at pre-arranged locations. Managers complete role calls.

It looks like fun, but is taken very seriously and followed by a de-briefing in the mess hall, locally known as "the galley," though it's on dry land.