MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Ushuaia landfill scrutinized in cruise ship hantavirus outbreak probe]]> Several of the roughly 150 tourists who set sail for Cape Verde on 1 April had visited the landfill, which is frequented by birdwatchers from around the world, drawn by scavenger species Seven kilometers from downtown Ushuaia, the municipal landfill serving Argentina's southernmost city has become one of the focal points of the epidemiological investigation into the hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Health teams are searching the site for traces of infected rodents. The landfill is frequented by birdwatchers from around the world, drawn by species such as the white-throated caracara, a scavenger bird endemic to the region.

]]> Fri, 08 May 2026 15:40:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands monitor MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak and clarify the route did not include the islands]]> The Falkland Islands Government announced that the KEMH “will review its policies for receiving unwell passengers off cruise ships, on a case-by-case basis” The Falkland Islands Government issued an official statement on Tuesday confirming that it is closely monitoring the hantavirus outbreak aboard the polar cruise ship MV Hondius — a vessel that frequently operates in the archipelago's waters — and took the opportunity to correct information reported by some international media outlets suggesting that the ship had stopped at the islands on its current voyage from Ushuaia. The Falkland Islands Maritime Authority clarified that this information is incorrect and that the Hondius's most recent visit to the archipelago was in mid-February, weeks before the journey that triggered the current health crisis.

]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 22:18:00 GMT <![CDATA[Cape Verde denies docking to hantavirus-hit cruise ship as WHO confirms seven cases]]> Aboard the Dutch-flagged Hondius are 147 passengers and crew members of 23 nationalities, including 17 Americans and at least 4 Canadians Cape Verde's health authorities on Monday denied permission to dock at the port of Praia to polar cruise ship MV Hondius, on board which the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed seven cases of hantavirus — two of them laboratory-verified — and three deaths linked to the voyage. The decision leaves the nearly 150 people remaining on board in prolonged isolation in Atlantic waters, while medical evacuations are coordinated for patients in the most serious condition and authorities evaluate the possibility of continuing the journey toward the Canary Islands, on Spanish territory.

]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 03:23:00 GMT <![CDATA[Another Antarctica season of over 100.000 visitors, according to IAATO]]> The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat says annual tourism has risen to more than 100,000 visitors with most visitors reaching by ship via the Antarctic Peninsula (Pkc IAATO) The latest official report from IAATO, (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators), put total 2024-25 visitation at 118,491, after 122,072 in 2023-24, meaning traffic remains well above the 100,000 mark even after a modest pullback.

]]> Sun, 03 May 2026 09:54:00 GMT <![CDATA[Viking's Jørn Henriksen new IAATO executive committee chair]]> Just-elected IAATO executive committee Chair Jørn Henriksen Jørn Henriksen, director of expedition operations at Viking, was elected chair of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, (IAATO) executive committee.

]]> Sat, 25 Apr 2026 16:12:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands participating at the IAATO annual meeting at Annapolis, MD]]> The Falklands representatives at the annual IAATO meeting A delegation of Falkland Islands representatives is currently attending the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, IAATO, Annual Meeting, (20/23 April), which also includes a Marketplace expo, at Annapolis, Maryland, United States

]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:17:00 GMT <![CDATA[FAO food commodities prices up in March; concern with energy and fertilizer costs]]> FAO Chief Economist Torero said “if the conflict stretches beyond 40 days farmers will have to choose: farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops”. World food commodity prices rose in March for the second month in a row, due largely to higher energy prices linked to the conflict escalation in the Near East, according to the latest benchmark measure released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:13:00 GMT <![CDATA[Replacement of Ice Patrol HMS Protector in the Works?]]> HMS Protector a regular scientific explorer in Antarctica waters during the austral months. She is also a regular visitor and strongly linked to the Falklands Islands. Portsmouth News has reported that UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed that capabilities for a future ice patrol ship are currently in the works. Minister for Defense readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, confirmed the development when responding to a parliamentary written question from Reform (former Tory) MP Andrew Rosindell.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:23:00 GMT <![CDATA[Antarctica, eco-sail expedition vessels will have a hybrid sail propulsion system]]> The eco-sail vessels to be delivered in 2029 and 2030 are an iteration of Oceanwide Expeditions’ existing Hondius-class design. Oceanwide Expeditions which specializes in Arctic and Antarctic cruises will construct two 146-passenger eco-sail expedition vessels, constructed with a hybrid sail propulsion system, reducing fuel consumption and lowering operational emissions.

]]> Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:44:00 GMT <![CDATA[International project validates renewable hydrogen energy systems in Antarctica]]> INACH Director Gino Casassa said the green hydrogen pilot plant design is backed by approximately 200 million Chilean pesos in funding from GIZ and the European Union A delegation of Chilean and European authorities and institutions completed a technical visit to the "Profesor Julio Escudero" research station operated by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) on King George Island, where progress was presented on a pilot renewable hydrogen and energy infrastructure project designed to validate hybrid energy systems in one of the planet's most demanding environments.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:48:00 GMT