Arctic/Antarctic

In pictures: Incredible Antarctic images captured by HMS Protector

HMS Protector is the Royal Navy's only ice patrol ship (Picture: Royal Navy).

A member of the crew of HMS Protector out on the water (Picture: Royal Navy).

The Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Protector has completed its latest work season (Picture: Royal Navy).

Say cheese, one of the seals on Avian Island pictured by the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy). — Say cheese! One of the seals on Avian Island pictured by the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

An incredible bird flying over the heads of the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy). — An bird flying over the heads of the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

HMS Protector crew members transporting equipment from their boats (Picture: Royal Navy). — HMS Protector crew members transporting equipment (Picture: Royal Navy).

Two members of the crew of HMS Protector smiling in the snow (Picture: Royal Navy).

A penguin stood in front of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy). — A penguin in the foreground of a shot of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

Heads up. A bird flying above the heads of the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy). — A bird flies above the heads of the crew members of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

A penguin getting its close up. Spotted by the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy). — A penguin getting its close-up (Picture: Royal Navy).

A group of penguins with HMS Protector in the background (Picture: Royal Navy).

HMS Protector is the Royal Navy's only ice patrol ship (Picture: Royal Navy).

A member of the crew of HMS Protector out on the water (Picture: Royal Navy).

The Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Protector has completed its latest work season (Picture: Royal Navy).

Say cheese, one of the seals on Avian Island pictured by the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

An incredible bird flying over the heads of the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

HMS Protector crew members transporting equipment from their boats (Picture: Royal Navy).

Two members of the crew of HMS Protector smiling in the snow (Picture: Royal Navy).

A penguin stood in front of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

Heads up. A bird flying above the heads of the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

A penguin getting its close up. Spotted by the crew of HMS Protector (Picture: Royal Navy).

A group of penguins with HMS Protector in the background (Picture: Royal Navy).

HMS Protector has completed another successful work season and during that time the crew came across some incredible Antarctic sights.

The icebreaker is the Royal Navy's only ice patrol ship, famous for her distinctive red and yellow colour scheme, earning the nickname the 'Swiss army knife'.

During the most recent season, Protector safeguarded the wildlife on Avian Island and broke its way through the ice to reach the previously inaccessible Pourquoi Pas Island and Blaiklock Island – and her crew managed to snap some amazing images, as seen in the photo gallery above.

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