Antarctica

• Sunday, January 22nd 2012 - 05:07 UTC

  US and Russia joint team to inspect all foreign installations in Antarctica

  

  United States and the Russian Federation will send a joint team to inspect foreign stations, installations and equipment in Antarctica from January 23 to January 28, 2012. The inspection will be conducted pursuant to the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and its Environmental Protocol.

• Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 16:29 UTC

  UK Services Antarctic expedition celebrates Scott’s South Pole feat in 1912

  

  Members of the British Services Antarctic Expedition 2012 on Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of the day Captain Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated team reached the South Pole, as their own journey begins.

• Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 02:58 UTC

  HMS Montrose on patrol in South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

  

  The Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose”, with a crew of 185 made a several days patrol visit to South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, GSSI, waters in December.

• Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 02:54 UTC

  Thirteen cruise vessels call at South Georgia; growing number of Chinese visitors

  

  Thirteen cruise vessels visited South Georgia last December including new vessel “L'Austral” which, in line with usual practice, was joined by a Government Observer to look at the ship's operation, passenger management and bio-security procedures, reports the South Georgia Newsletter.

• Monday, January 16th 2012 - 19:20 UTC

  Minister recalls Captain Scott’s South Pole feat and heralds work of UK polar scientists

  

  On the eve of the centenary of Royal Navy Captain Robert Scott reaching the South Pole, Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham has heralded the work of British polar scientists in helping to shape the understanding needed for managing climate change and contributing to the UK’s work for the peaceful protection of Antarctica.

• Saturday, January 14th 2012 - 06:28 UTC

  Piñera and Mujica committed to expand their countries Antarctic efforts

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica and his host and peer Sebastián Piñera said they are committed to expand and intensify the presence of their countries in Antarctica which they described as a “continent of peace and of the future”.

• Friday, January 6th 2012 - 07:12 UTC

  “Ninja” patrol vessel joins the annual Antarctic dispute with Japanese whalers

  

  The Sea Shepherd flagship ‘Steve Irwin’ was shadowed by a Japanese security vessel as it escorted the badly damaged Brigitte Bardot to Fremantle for repairs, the anti-whaling group says.

• Thursday, January 5th 2012 - 05:36 UTC

  Piñera reaffirms Antarctica policy and invites Mujica to visit Chilean bases

  

  Chilean president Sebastián Piñera will be flying to Antarctic next 13 to 15 January together with his Uruguayan peer Jose Mujica, announced on Wednesday Chile’s Foreign Affairs minister Alfredo Moreno.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2012 - 17:37 UTC

  Pale octopus and yeti crabs found surrounding hydrothermal vents near Antarctica

  

  Communities of species previously unknown to science have been discovered on the seafloor near Antarctica, clustered in the hot, dark environment surrounding hydrothermal vents.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2012 - 05:31 UTC

  HMS Protector ‘complies with all requirements’ to operate from Montevideo

  

  Uruguay authorized the Royal Navy Ice Patrol HMS Protector into Montevideo because it complies with normal procedure in spite of the fact that its next port of call is Stanley in Falklands/Malvinas.