Aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough, a ship operated by the British Antarctic Survey, there is a small room with a board covered in pictures of pets. The ship is on its way to Signy, where the team will be closing down its research base after the winter season. Katie Grant, an IT specialist and cat lover, put up the photos in her onboard office to boost morale. According to Grant, it feels like their pets are travelling with them.
The pets’ corner has pictures of cats, dogs, tortoises, and even a racing bike known as “Blue”, which one scientist on board considers a pet. The photos include a social media star named Nala, also known as the Stevenage railway station cat. Grant met the friendly ginger cat while travelling through the station and added Nala’s photo to the wall so she can bring joy to everyone who visits the Sir David Attenborough.
Nothing is banned in the pets’ corner, and the pictures bring a much-needed reminder of home to the crew while on their long trip. Grant explained that she loves her job in IT because no other IT job would provide such experiences. Her team provides IT support to the ship’s crew as well as the British Antarctic Survey staff joining them at the many stations they visit. They also provide IT support on their various Antarctic sites, which can range from fixing printers to installing webcams on base.
The ship, which left the UK in October, has spent the season doing scientific research and visiting various stations as part of its logistics role. It is expected to arrive at Signy between 28 March and 1 April, after which it will head to the Falklands. Signy Island is one of the remote South Orkney Islands, which are more than 800 miles (1,300km) from the Falkland Islands. Nala’s owner, Natasha Ambler, said it was “truly amazing” that her pet featured on board the ship
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