Chattanooga Times Free Press | by Sam Luther | Tuesday, June 18th 2019
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — In October, a group of 20 to 30 employees at Southern Spear Ironworks in Chattanooga will go to McMurdo in Antarctica - all for a major U.S. government-funded project to rebuild the national science foundation's base to continue important research in the world's most southern continent.
Chief Operations Manager Leo Flynn went on the last trip and says he enjoyed the scenery and wildlife. He takes value knowing the work they are doing is important.
It’s huge for the world of science you know they’re down there doing very important research and we’re glad to be helping them out we’re proud to be helping them out.
Logistically speaking, this trip is a challenge, sending steel across the country to California, then materials will make their way to Antarctica via a 30-day ship voyage.
Communication is sparse, and conditions are severe. Owner Sean Compton tells us "It's like building in Miami," with winds around 150 mph. Temperatures can get around negative 80 degrees with zero humidity, making the materials needed to ensure safety very hard to come by.
Compton says these materials they're making have never been produced before. All materials are accounted for before the crew embarks to Antarctica, because it is a 30-hour flight and will take 30 days to ship materials to McMurdo. Compton says the nearest hospital is hours away, making perfection a necessity.
"Iron work constructional steel work is top 5 most dangerous occupations in the world so when you add that to Antarctica and the temperatures and the wins and the other aspects like that and being 8 hours by jet to the closest hospital... that adds up to a lot of risk."
Compton tells us they still need more employees to fulfill the needed manpower to execute this project. Here's what he's looking for in any potential new employees willing to brave the frozen tundra:
"We’re looking for certified welders, structural steel fabricators, metal roofing guys, , we need some dirt work guys to help with some dirt work, demo guys but we are currently trying to hire a lot of people but we wanna keep people in Chattanooga we love Chattanooga this is our home."
Even if you do not want to go to Antarctica, there are still opportunities in Chattanooga needed to help make the project work. We're told the project will take anywhere from six to eight weeks depending on conditions.