Antarctica

• Thursday, September 24th 2015 - 07:18 UTC

  Polar Tour Operators hold first Antarctic/Arctic field guide conference

  

  The poles are combining forces in Toronto next week at a unique conference for polar field staff organized by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) in collaboration with its sister organization in the Arctic, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO).

• Monday, September 7th 2015 - 08:52 UTC

  HMS Endurance up for sale; she never recovered from the 2008 accident

  

  The Royal Navy has put its Ice Patrol ship, HMS Endurance, up for sale. The icebreaker served as the Royal Navy ice patrol ship between 1991 and 2008 before an accident during routine maintenance destroyed a large part of her equipment.

• Friday, September 4th 2015 - 12:15 UTC

  Toothfish Day celebration in South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

  

  Every country has its bank holidays. Some are widespread such as Christmas Day and Good Friday, others are unique such as Peat Cutting Monday in the Falklands
  and Melon Day in Turkmenistan.

• Tuesday, August 18th 2015 - 08:55 UTC

  South Georgia expects another cruise record season this 2015/16 season

  

  South Georgia is looking ahead to a new record year in the coming 2015/16 cruise ship season, according to the latest edition of the South Georgia Newsletter.

• Monday, August 3rd 2015 - 08:28 UTC

  Argentina and Chile armies agree on Antarctica rescue and support operations

  

  The armies of Argentina and Chile have completed the details for this Antarctic season PARACAH (Antarctic Combined Rescue Patrol Argentina-Chile) 2015 exercise that became effective as of August and extends until next year, and which besides combined rescue operations also refers to collaboration in scientific and research issues in Antarctica.

• Saturday, July 4th 2015 - 06:05 UTC

  South Georgia received record number of visitors during 2014/15 cruise season

  

  The island of South Georgia attracted the highest ever number of cruise ship passengers in the 2014/15 season, in contrast to falling numbers of tourists visiting the Antarctic, according to the May edition of the South Georgia Newsletter.

• Wednesday, June 24th 2015 - 08:17 UTC

  South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands launch crown coin with the humpback whale

  

  The Treasury of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands have launched a crown coin which features some the most amazing wildlife found in and around the South Atlantic Ocean. Following the tradition of depicting indigenous local wildlife, this latest crown issued by South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands features the amazing Humpback Whale.

• Saturday, June 6th 2015 - 07:41 UTC

  South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands coat of arms anniversary featured on new Crown coin

  

  The Treasury of South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands have launched a crown coin which marks the 30th anniversary of the territory’s granting of a Coat of Arms by Royal Ascent. The Coat of Arms of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands was granted in 1985, upon the formal creation of the territory.

• Saturday, May 16th 2015 - 08:13 UTC

  Polar Code does not adequately protect Antarctic environment from shipping, says ASOC

  

  The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition voiced its disappointment over the lack of any significant new provisions in Part II of the Polar Code that would adequately protect the Antarctic environment from shipping. The London-based UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday adopted Part II of the Polar Code concerning pollution prevention.

• Friday, May 8th 2015 - 08:21 UTC

  IAATO agrees to ban recreational use of UAVs in Antarctica’s coastal areas

  

  International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) members have agreed that, for the 2015-16 season, they will not allow the recreational use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the unique, and often wildlife rich, coastal areas of Antarctica.