Containerfest, December 2003

Equipment shipped to Rodrigues.

In the middle of December, members of the 3B9C DXpedition team spent three days in Portsmouth loading equipment into a 20ft. long container.

Closing the container doors on Saturday 14 December 2003, was the culmination of over nine months work by the team.

The key to such a large DXpedition is pre-planning. A detailed manifest was prepared, from transceivers, down to the number of cable ties required. The team prepared and packed some 30 aerials and 20 transceivers, along with masts, guys and many boxes of ancillary equipment.

During the three day containerfest, final preparations were made to earth mats for the verticals. Teams of three, unrolled and cut to length, 20 separate earth mats, made of 1m wide wire fencing. Each mat required a special termination, allowing easy connection to the verticals on site.

Loading of the container was co-ordinated by logistics manager Neville, G3NUG and John, G3WGV. John was to spend much of his time inside the container, making sure that each item was placed safely. Loading, or stuffing a container needs careful planning. It is important to make certain that items required first at the distant end are loaded last.

The aerials has all been prepared ahead of time and each cleaned, tested, broken down to 20ft. lengths and clearly labelled. Each aerial was then tied to special hanging supports installed in the container roof.

Dozens of boxes of all shapes and sizes were checked and their contents carefully listed. Each box was marked and loaded by the team.

By the end of the third day, Neville G3NUG, closed the doors of the container and added padlocks and customs seals.

On Tuesday 17 December, the container is collected and starts its long journey a third of the way across the world. Travelling from the UK to Mauritius, the container will be trans-shipped for its final journey to Rodrigues. Arrival on the island is due at the end February.

The next time daylight will be seen inside the container, will come from Rodrigues sunshine.