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[Montevideo cements its role as a staging port for Antarctic expeditions]]> The vessels that arrived were the Expedition, Ocean Albatros, Ocean Nova, Sylvia Earle, Ocean Explorer, Seaventure and Sea Spirit, ships with reinforced hulls equipped to sail in polar waters The port of Montevideo welcomed seven polar expedition ships this week at the start of the Antarctic season, reinforcing the Uruguayan capital’s role as a staging point for cruise ships heading to the frozen continent.

]]> Sun, 25 Oct 2026 13:32:00 GMT <![CDATA[The area of Antarctic ozone hole during September reached 15 million km2, says Copernicus]]> “CAMS provides high-quality data, forecasts and analyses needed to understand the state of the ozone layer and track its long-term recovery,” Laurence Rouil said The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) (*) has found that the 2026 Antarctic ozone hole reached a significant size threshold slightly earlier than average, aligned with 2025. It has also stayed ahead of average, unlike the previous year.

]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:01:00 GMT <![CDATA[Royal Navy urged to replace defective Ice Patrol HMS Protector]]> HMS Protector role helped to maintain a sovereign, reassuring, and versatile presence in the South Atlantic and the British Antarctic Territory The Royal Navy's only ice patrol vessel has been towed into Devonport, reportedly with a double engine failure, raising fresh concerns over how the news will be interpreted by Argentina. HMS Protector fulfils an icebreaking role to monitor the demilitarized Antarctic and support safe navigation for scientific research in challenging conditions.

]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:59:00 GMT <![CDATA[BAS researchers uncover chinstrap penguins massive colony decline in Antarctic volcanic island]]> Chinstrap and macaroni penguins nesting on the volcanic slopes of Zavodovski Island (credit: Nicole Richters) A remote volcanic island near Antarctica has lost its title of largest penguin colony in the world, as new research reveals massive population declines, igniting fears for species’ survival. Researchers from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have uncovered the loss of over half a million chinstrap penguins from the Antarctic island of Zavodovski in the South Sandwich Islands.

]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2026 07:04:00 GMT <![CDATA[What was the world's largest penguin colony has lost nearly two thirds of its nests]]> Photo: Nicole Richters The chinstrap penguin population on Zavodovski Island, in the South Sandwich Islands, has fallen by almost two thirds since 2011, according to a study by the British Antarctic Survey. The island, described that year as the world's largest penguin colony, has lost that title.

]]> Thu, 08 Oct 2026 07:54:00 GMT <![CDATA[A million square kilometres short: the ice ring around Antarctica keeps shrinking]]> Extent peaked on September 14 at 17.59 million square kilometres, more than a million below the historical average The sea ice surrounding Antarctica reached its third-lowest winter maximum this year since satellite records began in 1979, according to the US National Snow and Ice Data Center. The four lowest maxima in the record have occurred in the last four years.

]]> Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:00:00 GMT <![CDATA[Chile reinforcing its military presence in Magallanes Region and Antarctica]]> Minister Barros said defense requires planning and Chile must have the necessary capacities to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the security of its people. Chile announced the reinforcement of its military capacities in the Magallanes Region, extreme south of the country with a plan that includes renewal of aircraft, modernization of armored vehicles, increased vigilance and presence in the austral territory and Antarctica, updating of military strategy based on experiences from the current war scenarios in Europe and Middle East.

]]> Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:09:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands’ stamps and the story of the only reindeer world population unaffected by the Chernobyl radioactive fallout]]> Official first day cover One of the latest Falkland Islands Post Philatelic office is dedicated to the South Georgia reindeer, introduced by the Norwegian whalers and how they adapated to Southern Atlantic climate, living conditions and were later transferred to the Falklands.

]]> Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:44:00 GMT <![CDATA[South Georgia Fisheries Protection Vessel, 20th Anniversary of Pharos SG]]> The core mission of Pharos SG has been the enforcement of South Georgia’s internationally respected fisheries management regime For the past twenty years, the Pharos SG has been a constant and vital presence in the waters surrounding South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, safeguarding one of the most remote and ecologically significant marine environments on the planet.

]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:58:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands Post Office celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Blue Belt Program]]> The UK Overseas Territories (OTs) are home to 90% of the UK’s biodiversity. Since its launch in 2016, the UK Blue Belt Program has worked in partnership with OTs’ Governments to enhance the protection and sustainable management of these unique marine environments, marking a decade of collaborative ocean stewardship. In total, 4,309,000 km² of the world’s oceans are protected by the Blue Belt Program. That is an area 18 times the size of the UK. Falklands Post Office celebrates such an achievement with the release of specific stamps issues.

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