MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

All Antarctic ship operators now belong to IAATO

Denise Landau step down after seven years as Executive Director

Unity, a more agile membership structure and the fact that for the first time all Antarctic ship operators belong to IAATO are some of the outstanding results of the latest general assembly of the organization which this time was held in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

The International Association of Antarctic Operators will also have a new Executive Director as of next July first when Denise Landau will be stepping down after holding the post for nine years. IAATO is a member organization founded in 1991 by seven private tour operators conducting excursions in Antarctica to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Nineteen years on IAATO has 105 members and for the first time ever all ship operators (twelve passengers up) belong to the organization, said Denise Landau in a phone interview with MercoPress."A few small private operators, mainly yachts don't belong but the fact all ship operators in Antarctica belong to IAATO means unity and strength for the industry". Ms Landau pointed out that one of the main achievements at the meeting in Uruguay was the new membership categorization and organization structure with big M members, who have full voting rights, plus affiliates and associates. "But probably the most significant is that IAATO applicants can join all the year long", which makes the organization more flexible. Regarding two challenges linked to the industry, ship safety and the growing number of tourists visiting Antarctica Ms Landau was pragmatic and defended IAATO's track record. "Simple questions but complicated issues", however regarding ship safety, particularly following on this and last seasons' events, Ms Landau said IAATO members comply strictly with regulations which are ruled by a collection of mechanisms such as the IMO (International Maritime Organization), MRCC and different governments. As to the long term prospects of growing tourism to Antarctica and its impact Ms Landau said that as long as it remains well managed, regulated and is addressed with environmental sensitivity, such as those with which IAATO works, the issue is feasible. "IAATO has long established extensive procedures and guidelines that ensure appropriate, safe and environmentally sound private-sector travel to the Antarctic". These include regulations and restrictions on numbers of people ashore; staff-to-passenger ratios; site-specific and activity guidelines; wildlife watching; pre- and post-visit activity reporting; passenger, crew and staff briefings; previous Antarctic experience for tour staff; contingency and emergency medical evacuation plans, among other requisites. Definitive numbers for this last season, 2007/08 will be published in the next few days although Ms Landau anticipated that they will register a plus/minus increase in the range of 17%. Ship-borne tourism is responsible for the great majority of tourist visits to Antarctica, with approximately 49.000 passengers anticipated for the 2008-2009 season of which about three-fourths of those will be on board vessels that carry out landings. Ms Landau said that IAATO works closely with the 28 member countries of the Antarctic Treaty, which are regularly invited to the organizations' activities and vice versa. "For example next June IAATO will be making presentations at the XXXI Antarctic Treaty Consulting Meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Kiev, Ukraine". Finally when asked about her feelings on leaving the Executive Director post after seven years Ms Landau said "it was time for a change; but my heart is always there in Antarctica". Ms Landau first visited Antarctica in 1991 and in 1992 had already joined the budding IAATO. She will be replaced by Steve Wellmeier, from Rhode Island also long linked with Antarctic tours and a marketing expert.