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Brief news items on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic non-government expedition activities.
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VENTURE PROPOSES SKY-DIVING, HOT AIR BALLOONING: After a number of years in development, a private multi-national group coordinated by an organising committee in Russia, is currently offering opportunities for sky diving and hot air ballooning at the South Geographic Pole (SGP)in December-January. In what appears to be a complex operation, 'Millennium Expedition' organisers say that up to fifty people could sky dive in groups of 15-20 from an altitude of 3,000 m above the polar plateau at the SGP on 1 January or as weather permits, while a number of hot air balloons could each make up to three flights there around the same period (one of which would be simultaneous with the sky diving). This program is different from that proposed by the U.K. based Polar Skydiving Ltd. reported previously, which is also offering sky diving at the SGP around the same time [see ANAN-1/1 of 4 August 1999]. The proposed multi-national 'Millennium' operation calls for two large Russia-based wheeled transport aircraft, an Iluyshin 76 (IL-76) and Ilyushin 18 (IL-18), to be used to transport personnel, equipment and supplies from Punta Arenas (PA), Chile, to the blue ice runway at the Patriot Hills (PH) in Ellsworth Land. According to the organisers, between ten and twelve small tracked vehicles or 'Snow Bugs' will be flown into the PH by IL-76, and they will be used to carry support equipment, hot air balloons and personnel from there to the SGP, and return. The plan calls for the parachutists to jump from the IL-76 which will depart from the PH for the drop, and after landing they will be returned to the PH via the 'Snow Bugs' along with the balloonists and associated equipment for flights back to Chile. In order to support the proposed program, field camps will have to be established at the PH and the SGP, the former via IL-76 and the latter via the tracked vehicles prior to the sky diving operation. The IL-76 is to be configured for cargo carriage and airdrops, and the IL-18 for transport of between sixty and ninety passengers and their baggage. A total of six flights from Punta Arenas into Antarctica have been scheduled by organisers for the IL-76 in the period from 23 December to 11 January, carrying field camp shelter and general items, the 'Snow Bugs', sky diving and ballooning equipment, and a total of sixty tonnes of fuel (which is to be stored in bladders at the PH). Flight planning for the IL-18 is less clear however. The 'Snow Bugs' are reported to have been proven in Arctic travel, and according to specifications provided to ANAN are expected to each carry up to 600 Kg at an optimum cruising speed of 35-40 kilometres per hour. Depending on the route actually used the distance between the Patriot Hills and the SGP is around 1,000 km, therefore if such speeds can actually be achieved in practice, travel time between the two locations could be as short as two to three days. Given that both aircraft to be used are only configured for wheeled landings, the Bugs will be the only means the expedition itself has of returning personnel from the SGP and for on-ground search-and-rescue support between the PH and SGP in the event of a mishap in that area; although the IL-76 could air drop supplies when weather permits should they be needed. It is also proposed by the organisers that the Bugs will act as ground support vehicles during the balloon flights, one vehicle being assigned to chase and recover each balloon and return it and its crew to the SGP camp. Information provided to ANAN indicates that in addition to the fees paid by parachutists and balloonists for participation, substantial corporate backing is required to make the 'Millennium' program financially viable. No information is available at this time on progress being made regarding sponsorship or the numbers of people who have actually agreed to take part. Similarly, the status of the Polar Skydiving (PSD) operation, which is scheduled to depart PA on 22 December, with drops being made over the SGP on 1 January should weather permit, is unknown. If both operations proceed however, the PA-PH-SGP 'corridor' and general SGP area will be particularly busy in late December, early January. Both non-government expeditions plan to use the blue ice at Patriot Hills for their operation, PSD using the long-established Adventure Network International summer camp there for support; while several other non-governmental groups are also expected to be travelling overland to the SGP in this region at that time. The coming southern summer will see the second of a three-season, $US127.9M, rebuilding program underway at the United States' Amundsen-Scott station at the SGP. The presence of large visitor numbers and multiple logistics operations there is likely to place additional pressures on station personnel. Further information on the 'Millennium Expedition' is available at: http://www.chesco.com/~forum/SouthPole/s_pole.html. [ANAN-4/01]
CONCERN AT SOUTH GEORGIA MANAGEMENT PLAN CONFUSION: The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), is concerned that there may be confusion amongst tour operators and private groups about the requirements of the South Georgia Management Plan (SGMP) in the coming season. South Georgia (SG) Operations Manager, Gordon Liddle, told ANAN that the GSGSSI has analysed comments received on the SGMP, and that while good progress was being made in finalising arrangements, for a number of practical reasons it will be necessary to implement the policies in a phased way over the next few years. Anyone wishing to visit SG must first obtain a permit from the GSGSSI. The GSGSSI has accepted tour operator advice that exemptions be available to the requirement for vessels to land first at King Edward Point, Grytviken, however Gordon stressed that "conditions will apply to this arrangement". He said that those conditions "must be agreed by operators prior to permission being given" for an exemption, there is "no automatic right" to by-pass Grytviken, and that failure to meet requirements "will mean withdrawal of the privilege". Following a detailed Health and Safety assessment, visitors will not be able to approach within 200 m of the former whaling stations at Prince Olav Harbour, Leith Harbour, Stromness and Husvik. This will not however prevent guided walks between Leith and Stromness whaling stations as long as guides ensure the 200 m limit is observed. According to the GSGSSI, the Harpon Jetty at Grytviken has suffered yet more damage, and is considered by them to be "completely unsafe" such that "passengers must not be landed on the jetty". An area of foreshore in front of the Museum at Grytviken has been cleared for small boat landings, and details will be provided to ship's staff by the Marine Officer on their arrival. Gordon also said that expedition staff should be aware that contact information for both the Marine Officer and Museum at SG have changed, and that the text of a SG visitor information booklet is available via email. A three year Environmental Baseline Study of the island has been commissioned in order to improve knowledge of the SG environment and ensure that management decisions are taken in an informed way. Gordon went on to emphasised that there were "several tour operators who have not yet paid harbour dues and passenger landing fees in full for [the 1998-99] season", and that their 1999-2000 season permits "will be revoked" if payments were not finalised by 30 September. Requests for SG visits , exemptions, revised contact information, and the visitor information booklet, should be made to Gordon at the GSGSSI office in Stanley (Telephone +500 27433 [local time is UTC minus four hours], Facsimile +500 27434, and E-mail: gordon.liddle@stanley.mail.fco.gov.uk). Gordon told ANAN that interested parties will be given as much notice of SGMP changes as is possible, and that those with queries are encouraged to contact him if they are not sure of requirements. The GSGSSI is currently developing a website at which information on the SGMP and other matters will be available. Details will be provided by ANAN when the service is on line. [ANAN-4/02]
HEARD ISLAND PEAK ATTEMPT PLANNED: Four men from Perth in Western Australia are planning to climb Heard Island in the South Indian Ocean in 1999-2000. The party plans to depart from Albany in Western Australia in December and return in January; travel to and from the island being on a vessel of the Perth-based Austral Fisheries (AF) Company which proposes to fish in the vicinity. The expedition expects to be on the island for between four and six weeks. It will be led by Robb Clifton, and includes Stuart Davies, Matthew Rogerson, and David Tonna, all of whom are very experienced mountaineers and have significant experience in remote area living. Mawson Peak, the summit of the island at 2,745 m, has a reputation for very severe weather. The climbing party will be self sufficient on the island and the AF vessel will provide search and rescue cover for the group. Despite the difficulties Mawson Peak has been climbed twice before, both by private Australian ventures, although a number of attempts had been made in the 1950s and early 1960s by members of Australian government programs on the island. The two successful expeditions to reach the summit each used a different route. The first ascent was made in 1965 by members of the South Indian Ocean Expedition along a ridge in the south-east of the island, the second by climbers from the yacht 'Anaconda' who ascended via Long Ridge in the north-east in 1983. A separate Austrian group tried to climb the mountain via a north-western route also in 1983, however they were unsuccessful. The route taken by the 1999-2000 party will very much depend on just where they can be landed on the island, something that is not often straight-forward given weather conditions normally found there. An environmental impact assessment of the proposed program has been approved by Australian authorities. [ANAN-4/03]
SEABIRD SURVEY, SURFING SUPPORT, FOR 'GOLDEN FLEECE': 'Golden Fleece', a Falklands Islands (Malvinas) based twenty metre steel schooner, has been contracted to conduct two voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula area in 1999-2000. The first is expected to last a month and will leave Ushuaia, Argentina, on 20 November, travelling to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands with six passengers and three crew. Its purpose is to complete a seabird survey of the Antarctic Peninsula, visiting those areas not covered by the yacht 'Damien II' during her five year survey in the 1980s. Areas to be visited include the north coast of Livingston Island and adjacent islets, and the Weddell Sea coast of the Antarctic Peninsula south of Hope Bay as far as ice conditions permit, including a circumnavigation of d'Urville, Joinville and Dundee Islands. The second voyage is a 24 day sailing and surfing expedition from Ushuaia to the Antarctic Peninsula from 1-24 February. Aboard will be eight members of the Surfer's Medical Association of the United States, who plan to explore surf-exposed Antarctic islands and coasts suitable for surfing as well as considering aspects of marine and surfing medicine in high latitudes. The itinerary includes the north coast of the South Shetlands, Elephant Island and the west coasts of Anvers and Brabant Islands, Cape Horn and Diego Ramirez. While a few 'ad hoc' attempts at surfing have been made from some Government stations in the past, as far as it is known this will be the first time that a surfing expedition has been organised to the Antarctic. In addition to the Antarctic voyages, a two to four person film crew from the United States' company 'National Geographic' will use 'Golden Fleece' as support vessel for the filming of a wildlife documentary at Steeple Jason in West Falklands in October, prior to the Antarctic program getting underway. 'Golden Fleece', which is operated by Jerome Poncet from her home base at Beaver Island in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), has an ice-strengthened steel hull, accommodation for eight passengers and three crew, and a range under power of 16,000 km. She was built in 1985 in Ontario to Canadian Coastguard specifications. Since Jerome purchased her in 1996 as a replacement vessel for the 'Damien II', she has sailed some 65,000 km during three charter seasons in the Antarctic and South Georgia. During that time the vessel has worked in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula for the British Broadcasting Corporation's Natural History Unit for filming of "The Blue Planet" series; and supported private expeditions south, including a circumnavigation of South Georgia last year with Antarctic and South Georgia veterans Graham Budd, George Brown and Tony Bomford, all from Australia. After 18 seasons of Antarctic cruises, 'Damien II' is still operating locally around the Falklands, and a major refit is planned for her next year. [ANAN-4/04]
NEW SATELLITE, AIR RECONNAISSANCE, OFFER IMPROVED B10A TRACKING: An instrument on a newly launched U.S. satellite which can see through clouds will be used to improve the United States' National Ice Centre's (NIC) ability to track the B10A iceberg in the Drake Passage region (see ANAN-3/05 of 1 September). In addition, should it prove a problem to shipping later in the year, reconnaissance flights may be conducted from the Falklands (Malvinas) to monitor its position. NIC's ability to track B10A via satellite could otherwise be limited due to persistent cloudiness in the South Atlantic Ocean. A British Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules, supported by a VC10 tanker aircraft, flew over the berg on 3 September in a flight from the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The report from the aircraft was that the berg's position then was Latitude 59 degrees 28 minutes South, Longitude 58 degrees 45 minutes West, and its size as 65 x 25 km. Its walls were estimated to rise between thirty and sixty-five metres above the sea. Numerous large icebergs were seen from the aircraft stretching some 120 km north-east of B10A and have obviously originated from the main berg. NASA's new orbiting SeaWinds radar instrument, a scatterometer, was launched into polar orbit on 19 June aboard the QuikScat satellite to monitor near-surface winds speeds over the world's oceans. A scatterometer is a high frequency microwave radar designed specifically to measure ocean near-surface wind speed and direction. As the wind blows over the ocean, the surface is roughened and the reflected signal or echo of the satellite signal changes in relation to the speed of the wind. According to Dr David Long, a member of the SeaWinds science team at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California which built the scatterometer, B10A will be visible on 'images' returned from the satellite, and the technology is such that pieces down to four kilometres in size should be able to be tracked as the iceberg breaks up. When available up-dates on the berg's position from both satellite and aircraft observations will be placed on the NIC web site at: http://www.natice.noaa.gov/ [ANAN-4/05]
MEDIA QUERIES TOURISM ASPECTS OF AUSTRALIAN AIR TRANSPORT STUDY: An Australian Government study of air transport options between Australia and Antarctica has found that a direct air link between the two continents is feasible and that if introduced it would significantly benefit Australia's Antarctic research program. During a press conference on 1 September to release the report, Australian Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill, who is responsible for the Australian Antarctic program, fielded questions from journalists about the potential for tourists to use such a system. While acknowledging the potential tourism interest in an air link, the Minister stressed that the aim of the study and of any air transport link that may be introduced was to improve science program productivity. The Minister noted that he had accepted the report's recommendations which include a full environmental evaluation and further meteorological and glaciological studies to confirm the acceptability and practicality of the short listed options. He said that the cost of introducing an air link will also be further refined through a competitive commercial tender process. Subsequent media reports in Australia tended to stress the tourism aspects of the announcement rather than its science support focus. The report released by Senator Hill, lists twelve options as feasible and efficient, and recommends that four of these be subject to further practical investigations and market testing with potential operators. The four short listed options are based on use of ice and snow landing surfaces, but do not include use of the compressed snow runway being developed by the Russian Antarctic program near the Larsemann Hills in Princess Elizabeth Land. Further studies are to be undertaken by the Australian program over the next twelve months. If a decision is taken to proceed it is possible that a staged approach will be used to establish a system, with test flights commencing in 2001. A fully operational flight regime would not be on line for several years beyond that however. A copy of the report is available at: http://www.aad.gov.au/ [ANAN-4/06]
PETER I DISCOVERY PROVIDES NEW LIGHT ON SEAL MOVEMENTS: Dr Mark Hindell, Head of the Antarctic Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Tasmania in Australia, made an interesting discovery when he visited Peter I Island in the south-east Pacific Ocean as a Lecturer on Quark's 'Kapitan Khlebnikov's' (KK) last February. Mark, who has conducted work in southern elephant seal research on Macquarie Island for many years, found a molting, female southern elephant seal there which had been branded as a newly weaned pup on Macquarie Island just 15 months before as part of a long-term research program. Seldom-visited Peter I Island in the south-east Pacific Ocean with less than a dozen visits on record, and Macquarie Island south of Australia and New Zealand, are some 5,100 km apart. The 'KK' finding is the longest known movement for this species of seal, and throws new light on their ability to travel to all parts of the Southern Ocean . Mark has prepared a paper for 'Marine Mammal Science' which will be published later this year. [ANAN-4/07]
'TOOLUKA' DELIVERY VOYAGE DELAYED BY BAD WEATHER: The yacht 'Tooluka' is experiencing very bad weather on its journey across the South Pacific Ocean from Australia to Ushuaia, Argentina, from where it is scheduled to support several climbing expeditions, one at South Georgia (SG) and the other in the Antarctic Peninsula (see ANAN-2/6 and 2/7, 18 August 1999). Uncharacteristic headwinds in the vicinity of Latitude 50 South made progress very slow for several weeks and on 14 September the yacht and its two crew were still around 1,300 km from Ushuaia, although westerly winds have now set in. 'Tooluka', which left south-east Australia on 6 July, was originally scheduled there to start the SG expedition from Ushuaia in late August, then mid-September, however departure for that program does now not appear likely until the end of the month. [ANAN-4/08]
IN BRIEF: [1] The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), will hold its Eleventh annual meting in Goa, India, from 19-25 September. Discussions on non-government expedition issues are scheduled at the meeting. [2] An Australian yachtsman is proposing to visit Commonwealth Bay (CB), George V Land in January as part of a round the world voyage that will also take him to the Arctic. Ivan Sedich, of Perth, plans to leave there in mid-December on his eleven metre yacht 'Sana', which was designed by U.S. company Sparkman and Stephens. After the visit to CB, Ivan proposes to travel to Cape Horn, northwards in the Atlantic Ocean to Arctic areas, before returning to Perth. Australian authorities are currently liaising with him regarding environmental impact assessment, safety, and search-and-rescue, issues. [3] The Australian Antarctic Division has revised the arrangements that apply to Australian expeditioners proposing to use tourist ships for transport to and from its stations and field facilities in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic. Copies of the document can be obtained by contacting: tourism@aad.gov.au. [ANAN-4/09]
PEOPLE: Captain Heinz Aye, of the German company Hapag-Lloyd, will return to the Antarctic for the eighty-eighth time at the start of next season as Master of the passenger expedition vessel 'Bremen', and says that he is looking to extending that to 100 visits over the next few years. Heinz, whose career at sea commenced in 1953, first visited the Antarctic in 1977. Six of his Antarctic voyages have involved circumnavigations between New Zealand and southern Argentina. Heinz also has extensive experience in the Arctic, having five times taken vessels through the Northwest Passage of Canada, four of those without ice breaker support, and has circumnavigated Spitsbergen three times (his 1996 voyage was the first time this had been achieved by a passenger vessel). In his forty-six year career he has visited much of the world and during that time has completed thirty-nine round the world journeys by ship. [ANAN-4/10]
COMING MEETINGS: 25-28 June 2000. IAATO annual meeting. Hobart, Australia. [ANAN-4/11] ##ANAN-4 ends.
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