Antarctica
AntarcticaBAS merger plan triggers debate; fears of ‘diminished’ British presence in Southern Ocean
UK government plans to merge the British Antarctic Survey with the National Oceanography Centre have triggered global debate among scientists and politicians with former US Vice-president Al Gore wading into the discussion and fears in the Falkland Islands of a diminished “British presence” in the region.
HMS Protector on route to the Antarctic previous surveying in St Helena
The Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol ship HMS Protector is on her way for an eight-month deployment surveying and patrolling Antarctica. She left Portsmouth late September and is currently visiting St Helena to conduct surveys of the harbour in preparation for the building of a new jetty.
Shackleton Fund with new website; makes important Falklands’ announcements
The Shackleton Scholarship Fund which is closely linked to the South Atlantic and the Falkland Islands has announced the launch of their new website: www.shackletonfund.com.
Film to re-edit Shackleton’s odyssey and project to recover “Endurance”
Bob Chartoff and Lynn Hendee of Chartoff Productions announce plans for “Ice”, an epic action-adventure feature film based on the true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Endurance expedition. Shackleton’s remarkable rescue of his 27 men when their ship, the Endurance, went down in the pack ice off the Antarctic coast is internationally regarded as the greatest adventure in history.
HMS Edinburgh on South Atlantic patrol; last deployment for Type 42 destroyers
The Royal Navy’s destroyer HMS Edinburgh left on Monday Portsmouth on her final planned deployment. It marks a historic milestone for both the ship and the Royal Navy as it will be the last time a Type 42 destroyer deploys on operations as they make way for the new-generation Type 45 destroyers.
Preparing to re-enact Shackleton’s epic on a replica of ‘James Caird’ next January
A pair of Royal Navy and Royal Marines adventurers has completed a summer of sea trials as they prepare to take an authentic replica of Sir Ernest Shackleton's famous lifeboat back to the icy wastes of the South Pole.
Brazil begins rebuilding Antarctic base destroyed by deadly fire last February
Three navy supply ships will head for Antarctica next month to begin rebuilding a Brazilian naval base destroyed by a deadly fire in February, Defence Minister Celso Amorim said Monday.
South Georgia issues new stamps dedicated to blue whales
Blue whales are the subject of a new SGSSI stamp issue released on August 31st. The four stamp designs are based on watercolour paintings by artist Kim Chater, according to the latest release from South Georgia News and Events.
Funds from confiscated illegal fish used to combat poachers in Southern Ocean
Funds generated by the sale of fish confiscated from a vessel that had been poaching in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Island’s Fishery Zone (SGFZ) are being put to good use to fight illegal fishing elsewhere in the Southern Ocean.
One longliner and four krill trawlers fishing in South Georgia
Only one longliner remained fishing in South Georgia waters at the end of the season on August 31. Four longliners were fishing at the start of August, but just one remained to complete its allotted fish quota. The others completed their TAC at various times through the month then sailed for the Falkland Islands for catch verification.
