EXPLORER Sir Ranulph Fiennes will be protected from -90C cold by shipping containers converted by a Southend family business as he attempts the first crossing of the Antarctic in winter.

Upminster Containers, owned by Eastwood couple Maria and Lee Hadden, has fitted out three shipping containers to house the adventurer and his equipment as treks 2,000 miles across the ice, mostly in complete darkness.

Mrs Hadden, 40, whose father started the firm, said: “We are really proud that we were given the opportunity to be involved.”

The couple and 11-year-old son Alex were invited down to the ice-breaker SA Agulhas on Wednesday before Prince Charles gave the 68-year-old explorer and his five man team the royal send off from Tower Bridge Thursday.

Alex, who goes to The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh, already met his idol, whose biography he is reading, when Sir Ranulph visited the family’s business to check on progress two months after work started in February.

Mrs Hadden, of Gravel Road, said: “It was lovely. It was so nice to meet him. He was very friendly and chatted to all the staff.”

Upminster Containers, which has also sponsored the expedition, chopped two 40ft containers down to 28ft and joined them to make the living quarter. Workmen converted another 28ft container to house the team’s specialist science equipment.

The firm, which has converted containers into a common room for Westcliff High School for Girls, cut windows and installed lambs’ wool and spray foam insulation, dividing walls and flooring.

The engineers then fitted bed frames, lockers, a kitchen and bathroom.

Much of the metal was donated by Shoebury-based Industrial Metal Services.

Although the kitted-out containers are worth tens of thousands of pounds the commission provided little profit for the firm.

Mrs Hadden said: “This was not a particularly profitable job for us but it was great to be involved.

“It was nice to have him come down and meet us all. But equally we have to look after all our customers. The jobs we have done for other people have been equally as good.”