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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, October 20th 2025 - 19:28 UTC

Antarctica

  • Friday, May 12th 2017 - 07:23 UTC

    IAATO appoints New Executive Director, Dr Damon Stanwell-Smith

    Damon began his career as a marine biologist, gaining a PhD with the British Antarctic Survey, later heading programs at UNEP-WCMC

    The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has announced the appointment of Dr. Damon Stanwell-Smith as Executive Director. Damon will lead the Secretariat and work with IAATO’s Executive Committee to ensure the association is functioning according to its mission of safe, environmentally responsible private-sector travel to Antarctica.

  • Friday, May 12th 2017 - 06:59 UTC

    IAATO members vote to develop an Antarctic conservation plan

    “This was an important decision that reflects our members’ ongoing commitment to sustainable Antarctic tourism.” said Terry Shaller Chair of IAATO’s ExCo

    Members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) have agreed to develop a science based conservation plan for the Antarctic Peninsula in collaboration with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to support decision making for tourism management.

  • Thursday, May 11th 2017 - 12:38 UTC

    Chile cuts steel for its new 13.000 tons icebreaker to be operational in 2022/23

    “It's a great day for Chile and a great honor for me to participate in the steel plate cutting ceremony of this new icebreaker”, said president Bachelet

    Chilean president Michelle Bachelet cut the first sheet of steel for the construction of the country's new icebreaker which is expected to be operational for the 2022/23 Antarctic season, replacing the ageing Almirante Oscar Viel. The US$ 200 million plus project based on a contract with naval architects and marine engineers Vard Marine, will be built at ASMAR Talcahuano, Shipbuilding & Ship Repair Company.

  • Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 - 22:31 UTC

    BAS describes how warm, dry winds weaken Antarctic ice shelves

    In 1995 and 2002, the Larsen A and B ice shelves collapsed, depositing an area the size of half East Falkland into the Weddell Sea.

    New research describes for the first time the role that warm, dry winds play in influencing the behaviour of Antarctic ice shelves. Making a presentation at a European conference scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explain how spring and summer winds, known as föhn winds, are prevalent on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, West Antarctica and creating melt pools.

  • Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 - 11:46 UTC

    IAATO estimates 46.385 visitors to Antarctica during the 2017/18 season

    Overall, levels of visitation, particularly in the cruise sector of the industry, has been increasing steadily since 2011-2012.

    The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) announced its tourism figures for the 2016-2017 Antarctic season at the start of its annual meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2/7. Members are gathered to discuss safe, environmentally responsible Antarctic tourism, including a multi-dimensional approach to managing for growth that will keep activities both safe and sustainable.

  • Thursday, April 27th 2017 - 10:17 UTC

    Argentine Icebreaker Irizar is back undergoing sea trials, readying for Antarctica sailing

    The “new” Irizar has state of the art technology, double Antarctic fuel capacity and has increased six fold the area dedicated to labs and other scientific activities

    Argentina's Navy icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar is back on sea trials following almost ten years of recovery and refurbishing after she caught fire in 2007 when returning from Antarctica and was considered almost a wreck given the magnitude of the damages experienced.

  • Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:10 UTC

    Twelve million penguins in Antarctica, according to the 2017 SOAP report

    SOAP report collected data from 660 or more sites across the Antarctic continent and draws on current scientific data, including 3,176 records from 101 sources

    April 25 is World Penguin Day, timed to coincide with the annual northward march to the sea of Antarctic penguins, as autumn edges toward winter in that part of the world. There are 12 million penguins in Antarctica, according to a new report – the inaugural State Of Antarctic Penguins 2017 (SOAP) report – also released on Tuesday.

  • Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 07:45 UTC

    On World Penguin Day scientists call for more protection of Antarctic wildlife

    “Penguins are great ambassadors for understanding the need to conserve Southern Ocean resources,” said Christian Reiss, an Antarctic fisheries biologist at NOAA

    The world needs to do more to protect the Antarctic wilderness and its wildlife, scientists warned Tuesday, as they marked World Penguin Day. The flightless seabirds—a favorite with children for their clumsy, waddling gait—offer a useful yardstick for researchers to judge the health of their habitat

  • Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 01:57 UTC

    Punta Arenas plans to seat a major Antarctica scientific research hub

    Governor Jorge Flies said the objective was for at least 1,000 scientists to settle in the Magellan region capital of Punta Arenas

    Chile will build the International Antarctic Center in the southern city of Punta Arenas, meant to become the entering point to the white continent for the world. The Governor of the Magellan region and the Chilean Antarctic, Jorge Flies stated this week that there were 35 projects developing in his jurisdiction, in three important areas.

  • Tuesday, March 28th 2017 - 08:12 UTC

    Argentina defines continental shelf limits with the exception of the Falklands and Antarctica areas

    Minister Malcorra and the panel of government officials which made the announcement on Argentina's definitive continental shelf external limits

    Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra has announced that Argentina has definitive international support for its defined continental shelf limits, with the exception of the Falklands/Malvinas, South Georgia, in dispute with the UK, and those covered by the Antarctic Treaty, which are not considered by the UN because of a sovereignty litigation or an international treaty.