After traveling 9,159 nautical miles over 69 days, the McMurdo Docking Pier has arrived in Antarctica.

Towed across the Pacific and through the Southern Ocean by TradeWinds Towing LLC, including route adjustments to avoid weather systems and encountering seas up to 30 feet, this structure is now positioned to replace the traditional seasonal ice pier at McMurdo Station.

The McMurdo Docking Pier, constructed by Gunderson Marine & Iron and designed by Glosten for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will replace the traditional seasonal ice pier historically used at the station. Designed with a raked hull to ride on top of sea ice and engineered for long-term durability in polar conditions, the new pier will provide more reliable, lower-maintenance mooring infrastructure to support cargo operations at the largest research facility in Antarctica.

“This project reflects the capability and resilience of our workforce,” said Dee Burch, President of Gunderson Marine & Iron. “From engineering and fabrication in Portland to arrival at the edge of the world, this pier represents the strength of American shipbuilding and the commitment to supporting critical scientific research in one of the harshest environments on earth.”

The successful arrival marks a major milestone in the multi-year effort to modernize logistics infrastructure supporting U.S. Antarctic research operations.