The way to and from Palmer Station is only by way of boat. The R/V (research vessel) Polar Duke was chartered by NSF from1985-1997 to haul cargo and personnel back and forth from Punta Arenas, Chile to Palmer.

The R/V Polar Duke is nicknamed by some as the "Whale."

Its been replaced (new contract) by the R/V Laurence M. Gould...
(talk about whales!)