Members of the New Zealand ship offload team remove containers from the vessel American Tern at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, in summer 2008. Since 1956 the New Zealand Defence Force has supported New Zealand's Antarctic research programme through the provision of search-and-rescue support, naval and air transport, terminal operations in New Zealand and Antarctica, ship offload operations and support to the programme's Scott Base. During this ship offload operation, 29,000 tonnes of fresh supplies for the scientists and support staff at New Zealand and American research bases were removed from the container ship. Both New Zealand and American military personnel undertake this work. As this photo suggests, military personnel have to work in challenging weather conditions, even in the summer.