
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT) is planning an expedition – Endurance22 – to locate, survey and film the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s iconic ship, Endurance, which sank in the Weddell Sea in November 1915.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recognized a new record high temperature for the Antarctic continent of 18.3° Celsius on 6 February 2020 at the Argentine Esperanza station.

Scientists in Australia and the United States are reporting the sudden loss of a large ice-covered Antarctic lake covering an area of eleven square kilometres. The rare event occurred during the winter of 2019 on Amery Ice Shelf in East Antarctica and was noticed in satellite images the following summer by Dr Roland Warner from the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership at the University of Tasmania.

Icebreaker HMS Protector sailed closer to the North Pole than any other Royal Navy ship in history on her first patrol of the Arctic. The survey and research ship crunched her way through polar ice to within 1,050 kilometres of the top of the world as she gathered data about the ocean and environment.

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) has unveiled plans to designate Terrestrial Protected Areas covering the entire landmass of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, some 3,800km2.

Since National Geographic began making maps in 1915, it has recognized four oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans. However starting on June 8, World Oceans Day, it will recognize the Southern Ocean as the world’s fifth ocean. This is because the swift current circling Antarctica keeps the waters there distinct and worthy of their own name.

Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship HMS Protector has been assigned two small rotary-wing drones, specially adapted for her unique mission in the polar extremes. Although the Devonport-based survey ship has a large flight deck, with no hangar she cannot take helicopters with her – unlike her predecessor HMS Endurance, which carried two Lynx.

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has appointed Executive Committee member Robyn Woodhead to its top spot during this year’s online annual meeting, according to a press release. Woodhead joined the committee in 2017, having been an active member of the organization since 2010.

The cruise ships company Cruceros Australis Friday launched during the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid what they announced as totally safe trips, such as navigating the virgin landscapes of Patagonia.

In a strong message of confidence for the future of the cruise industry and the luxury travel market, Scenic has started production on Scenic Eclipse II, the sister ship to Scenic Eclipse, the world’s most luxurious discovery yacht. The beginning of production was announced at the keel-laying ceremony, with the Croatian Prime Minister in attendance.