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COMNAP NON-GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES GROUP TO EXPAND ROLE: COMNAP's Tourism and Non-Government Activities Working Group (TANGO) will expand its terms of reference as a result of discussions held during COMNAP XI held in Goa, India, late last month. COMNAP, the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, is made up of the heads of national program agencies. During the meeting concern was expressed about the need to improve inter-governmental coordination of information on, and management of, the increasing number and range of non-government activities being conducted outside the purview of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). These activities include small-scale adventure tourism and very large tourist vessel operations, the latter not being eligible for IAATO membership as they carry more than 400 passengers (ANAN-1/4 of 4 August 1999). While not specifically mentioned, issues related to the large transport aircraft day overflights such as those currently conducted from Chile and Australia, are also likely to come under TANGO's expanded role should it be needed. TANGO will continue its previous role of maintaining a cooperative relationship with IAATO and will work to identify areas of common interest to it and COMNAP. In addition to its terms of reference, the membership of TANGO was expanded to six. The membership is now made up of: Professor Anders Karlqvist, Director of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat (Chair); Dr Ernesto Molinari of the National Antarctic Directorate in Argentina; Professor Takeo Hirasawa, Director of the Japanese National Institute of Polar Research; John Hall, Operations Manager of the British Antarctic Survey; Dr Karl Erb, Director of United States' National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs; and Kim Pitt, Assistant Director Expedition Operations, at the Australian Antarctic Division. Karl Erb and Kim Pitt are the new members. The Goa meeting was COMNAP's Eleventh annual gathering since its establishment in 1988. Its next meeting is scheduled for Tokyo, Japan, in June 2000. [ANAN-6/01]
'CLIPPER' PARENT INTRAV ACQUIRED BY A SWISS COMPANY: INTRAV, the St Louis, United States (US) based parent company of Clipper Cruise Line (CCL), was sold on 16 September to a Swiss group Kuoni Travel Holding Limited of Zurich for $US115M. INTRAV was founded in 1959 and today specialises in 'top of the market' escorted tours, including private-jet adventures, African safaries and small-ship cruising as conducted by CCL in remote areas such as Antarctica. According to Kuoni, INTRAV is highly profitable and in 1998 reported a turnover of $US126m, an operating income of $US10.3M, and a net income of $6.8M. Forecasts for 1999 are said to be "excellent". While INTRAV is a small company by US standards, industry observers in North America believe that the entry of a European company into their market is significant. Analysts see great potential for growth in US tourism to all parts of the world over the next decade as 'baby boomers' reach retirement age. Growth is anticipated as being particularly strong for relatively small-scale, remote area, operations offering natural 'experiences' with less crowding and high 'exclusivity', something INTRAV has specialised since its establishment. INTRAV founder Barney Ebsworth established CCL in 1982 and the two operated as separate companies until late 1996, when INTRAV having gone public the preceding year, bought CCL. Clipper first marketed Antarctic tours in 1993. While CCL's Antarctic operations are not likely to change signficantly in the short term, the company says that INTRAV and it "have a slate of innovative adventures planned for 2000 and beyond". These could involve additional activities in Antarctica. CCL currently operates four vessels, two of whom are scheduled to operate in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic region in 1999-2000. One, the 5,000 tonne 'Clipper Odyssey', will conduct a single voyage to the Auckland Islands in the New Zealand sub-Antarctic in February. 'Odyssey', built in 1989 as the 'Oceanic Grace', was purchased by the company earlier this year and can carry up to 128 passengers. She visited the same region last season as 'Oceanic Odyssey'. The other Clipper vessel is the 122-passenger 'Clipper Adventurer'. It is scheduled to conduct nine Antarctic voyages between 13 November and 29 February. Seven of the nine are to the Antarctic Peninsula from either Ushuaia, Argentina, or Stanley in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), while the other two also include visits to South Georgia and the South Orkney Islands. 'Clipper Adventurer' has operated in the Antarctic since 1994 , first as the 'Alla Tarasova', and for the past two seasons under its present name. Following its purchase of the vessel in 1998, CCL spent some $US16 million in refurbishing it for voyages to all parts of the world. The Kuoni Travel Group was established in 1906 by Alfred Kuoni a Swiss citizen and in addition to INTRAV, has holdings in nine European countries, Asia and India. Kuoni appointed one of its staffers, Ian Coghlan, as Chief Executive Officer of both INTRAV and CCL. He replaces former CEO Paul Duynhouwer who will be the majority owner and CEO of New World Ship Management Company, LLC, which has been formed to operate all four Clipper vessels, including the Bahamanian-registered 'Clipper Adventurer' and 'Clipper Odyssey', which operate in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions. Duynhouwer has the majority stake in CCL's other two vessels which are both US registered. [ANAN-6/02]
SHACKLETON FILM EXPEDITION TO UTILISE TWO VESSELS FOR SUPPORT: Two ships are scheduled to leave separate South American ports early next week in support of a month-long expedition to film a documentary on the journey of survival of British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men after the loss of their ship 'Endurance' in 1914. White Mountain Films (WMF) of New York, and NOVA, the US Public Broadcasting System (PBS) science documentary series, are to film two versions of the story, one a documentary for broadcast on PBS, and the other a large format forty-minute feature film for exhibition in IMAX® theaters world wide. Both films, which are expected to be released next year, are based on the recent book by Caroline Alexander, 'The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition'. Support for the Antarctic part of the filming will be provided by the vessels 'Akademic Shuleykin', from Marine Expeditions, Canada, and the 'Laurel' of the Chilean company Ultragas. 'Shuleykin' is 72 m long can carry a maximum of fifty-three passengers, while 'Laurel is 49 m long and has a capacity for eighteen passengers. 'Laurel' will carry a single Aerospatiale A-Star 350 B3 ('Squirrel') helicopter to support filming and general expedition work. Both vessels are scheduled to leave for Grytviken, South Georgia on 19 October, 'Shuleykin' from Montivideo, Uruguay, and 'Laurel' from Punta Arenas, Chile, and will support filming work at South Georgia, in the pack ice south of the South Orkney Islands, and at Elephant Island. During the charter 'Shuleykin' is expected to carry around thirty film crew and support staff, while the 'Laurel' will transport four film and helicopter people. Field staff totals seven, all of whom have had considerable Antarctic experience. 'Laurel' is due back in Punta Arenas on 18 November, while 'Shuleykin' is expected there a week later. 'Shuleykin' is scheduled to conduct eight tourist voyages to Antarctica for Marine Expeditions in the coming season, the first of which is due to leave Ushauia, Argentina, on 27 November, shortly after her return from the filming voyage. White Mountain Films (WMF) and NOVA/WGBH Boston submitted an Initial Environmental Evaluation for the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for the project. The US EPA in Washington D.C., is responsible for evaluating Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) prepared by U.S. non-government operators planning to conduct operations in Antarctica. [ANAN-6/O3]
VESSEL POSITIONING SYSTEM SEEN AS ENHANCING OPERATIONAL SAFETY: The establishment of an automatic position reporting system for vessels operating in waters south of Latitude 60 degrees was suggested at the recent COMNAP meeting in Goa, India, as a means of improving the safety of ship operations in the region. Currently there is no centrally coordinated system for reporting vessel locations in the Antarctic region. The concept proposed involves vessels reporting their positions via e-mail to an internet site, such as COMNAP's, which would be programmed to display ship locations on a map. Clicking each ship 'dot' displayed by the web site would provide details of the vessel and allow rapid contact to be made with it in the event it was required to assist in a search and rescue situation. Once established the system could receive, collate and display data automatically without humans being involved in the process. COMNAP members are currently considering their views on the proposal, and it is also being passed to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) for comment. Further formal discussion of the proposal will occur at COMNAP's next meeting in June 2000. [ANAN-6/04]
DECISION ON MACQUARIE 2000-01 BIDS DELAYED: Australia's Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (TPWS), which manages World Heritage listed Macquarie Island, has deferred its decision on visit allocations for tour operators for the 2000-01 season. The Service, which called for expressions of interest for 2000-01 visits to be submitted by the end of August, originally planned to finalise allocations by the end of September in order to assist companies with their planning. However an unprecedented number of requests for visits, which far exceed the limit of 500 tourist visits currently allowed in any one season, has drawn out the selection process. TPWS has acknowledged that the delay "may create difficulties" for tour companies planning to operate in the area south of New Zealand and Australia next season. It says however that given the demand further time is needed to consider the issues involved, and that this might include the need to obtain more information from proponents. [ANAN-6/05]
THREE-YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT AIMED AT IMPROVED SOUTH GEORGIA MANAGEMENT: Work will commence on South Georgia in January on a three-year research project to provide more precise data on the island's environment for use in the on going implementation of the South Georgia Environmental Managament Plan (EMP). The EMP's aim is to protect the island's natural values while ensuring sustainable management of economic resources and developments. A key focus of the three-year program is to collect site-specific environmental baseline data on the plants and animals at a number of locations around the island. These data will indicate if specific monitoring programmes are required to determine whether impacts are occuring as a result of visits to the sites. Parrallel work will be undertaken to study the activities of tourists at selected island sites to develop recommendations of site-specific codes of practice where needed. The three-year program provides the first opportunity on South Georgia for collaboration between Government, scientists and tour operators to work together in the interests of tourism and conservation management. Collaboration with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) is seen as an important part of the research program, and its affiliates have responded positively to requests for support. Commissioned by the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), the three-year program will be conducted by Sally Poncet of the Falkland Islands and Dr Jenny Scott of the University of Tasmania, Australia. The British Antarctic Survey, who will be managing the program's Geographical Information System (GIS) database, will also play a key role. Sally and Jenny both have an extensive background in plant and animal survey work, and in the production of related distribution maps. Each has worked in many parts of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic over the last two decades. Aurora Expeditions has agreed to carry Sally Poncet from Stanley to South Georgia on the 'Professor Molchanov' in mid January, while Peregrine Expeditions, will transport Jenny Scott from Ushuaia to the island on the 'Akademik Boris Petrov' ('Peregrine Explorer') in early February. Arrangements for their return from South Georgia have yet to be finalised. [ANAN-6/06].
UKAHT ANTICIPATING HIGH VISITOR NUMBERS AT PORT LOCKROY: The historic British base at Port Lockroy on the Antarctic Peninsula is expected by its operator, the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), to receive a record number of visitors during the forthcoming summer season. UKAHT records show that 5,782 people visited the base in 1998-99, up from 4,801 in 1997-98 and 4,292 in 1996-97. Statistics compiled by the United States' National Science Foundation (NSF) from data provided by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), indicates that some 6,473 people visited Port Lockroy in 1998-99 and 6,429 in 1997-98. This season Port Lockroy will be manned between 15 November and 14 March. It will be opened by Dave Burkitt and Dr Norman Cobley who will be landed by the BAS research vessel RRS "James Clark Ross" (JCR). Norman will leave the base on 10 December on JCR and be replaced by Rod Downie. Dave and Rod will then stay for the remainder of the season until they are picked up by the new BAS research vessel RRS "Ernest Shackleton". Tasks the team will carry out this season include, guiding visitors safely around the site, running the base Post Office and shop, monitoring the local breeding Gentoo penguins (ANAN-3/09 of 1 September 1999), giving lectures on board visiting tour ships, and routine maintenance and painting of the base buildings. In addition, the team will also take back to Port Lockroy a number of historic artifacts from the UK, including an original base typewriter and a 1940's Royal Navy wireless set and associated radio equipment. Port Lockroy is operated each austral summer by the UKAHT with support from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the UK Government Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). The annual operation is financed by the sale of merchandise and stamps at the base. Any surplus money generated, as well as any donations received from visitors to the base, goes to the UKAHT and helps to protect and conserve the UK's Antarctic heritage. Port Lockroy was built as part of the British Royal Navy's top-secret "Operation Tabarin" in 1944. At the end of World War II, the base was handed over to the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, the precursor of BAS, and operated as a scientific research station until it was closed in 1962. Port Lockroy then became derelict until a conservation survey by the UKAHT in 1994-95 led to the decision to save and conserve the base. A major restoration and clean-up program was carried out in 1995-96, and since then the base has been open each summer season to visitors. Port Lockroy was declared a Historic Site under the Antarctic Treaty in 1995. For further information about Port Lockroy contact Dr John Shears of BAS at: jrs@bas.ac.uk . For further information about the UKAHT contact Captain Pat McClaren, Secretary of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust at: The Blue House, East Marden, Chichester, Sussex, UK P018 9JE. [ANAN-6/07]
'OZONE HOLE' SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN LAST YEAR: Data collected by a US satellite shows that while still large, the area of ozone depletion over the Antarctic is slightly less this austral Spring than last year. Preliminary data from satellite observations indicate that this year's Antarctic ozone depletion covered 25.4 million square kilometres on 15 September, the maximum depletion area currently on record being 27.2 million square kilometres on 19 September 1998. The slightly decreased size this year is not considered by NASA as an indication of the recovery of Antarctic ozone levels, but rather is attributed to year-to-year changes in meteorological conditions. It is thought that he actual rate of recovery is likely to be affected by the increasing abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Detecting the recovery of the ozone hole will require satellite and ground-based measurements to continue for many years. The hemispheric-scale measurements of Ozone levels were obtained between mid-August and early October using the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument aboard the US's Earth Probe (TOMS-EP) satellite. Space-based instruments have been measuring Antarctic ozone levels since the early 1970s. TOMS data and maps of Ozone levels over Antarctica are available on the Internet at either http://toms.gsfc.nasa.gov or http://pao.gsfc.nasa.gov/ [ANAN-6/08]
U.K., AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTERS JOINT PATRONS OF 'CHILLOUT': The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, last week joined his Australian counterpart, John Howard, as a Patron of 'Operation Chillout', an attempt by an Australian and a Briton to walk unsupported across Antarctica via the South Geographic Pole (ANAN-3/01, 1 September 1999). Expedition members Peter Tresseder and Tim Jarvis are now in South America making final preparations for the expedition. The pair are scheduled to depart Punta Arenas, Chile, around 15 October as weather allows. An Adventure Network International aircraft is to fly them to the Patriot Hills, Ellsworth Land, and from there they will be flown to Berkner Island to commence the proposed journey to Ross Island. Given good weather the trans-Antarctic journey could commence from Berkner Island as early as 17 October. 'Chillout' is a private expedition and will operate as such. It has no national-program links. [ANAN-6/09]
NEW BOOKLET FOR MACQUARIE ISLAND VISITORS: A new colour booklet outlining the geological aspects of Macquarie Island will be provided to tourists visiting the island this year. When the island was declared a World Heritage Area in late 1997 it was generally assumed it was because of the diversity and richness of its wildlife. Macquarie was however already a Nature and Biosphere Reserve on those grounds, and the WHA status was in fact based upon the island's unique geology. The booklet which is titled 'A New Arrival: The Geological Development of a Young Island', was prepared and published by the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service (TPWS) in Hobart, Australia. It provides a general explanation of the way the island has evolved over time and illustrates aspects of the processes that shaped it which can be seen there today. Operators who have been allocated visits to the island will be provided with copies of the new booklet. They, or others, interested in it should contact TPWS's Peter Grant via e-mail at: peterg@dpiwe.tas.gov.au [ANAN-6/10]
'TOOLUKA' ARRIVES IN SOUTH GEORGIA: The yacht 'Tooluka' arrived at Grytviken, South Georgia, on 9 October. It was expected to leave there on 11 or 12 October to deploy a four-person group at Cape Alexandra to commence the attempt to traverse from there to Cape Disappoinment along the island's spine (ANAN-2/7 of 18 August 1999). 'Tooluka', which has a crew of three, will support them by providing supplies at spots along the coast. The yacht was delayed during transit from Ushuaia, Argentina, when it encountered a number of large icebergs en route, requiring it to proceed more slowly. The icebergs do not appear to be associated with the huge B10A berg currently in the Drake Passage area (ANAN-4/05 of 15 September). [ANAN-6/11]
CORRECTION TO EDITION 5: In item ANAN-5/01 titled "New company confident it's 'on track' despite delays in vessel purchase", the media-reported purchase price for the 'Olga Sadovskaya' was given as $US3.1M. The figure floated by the media in Australia was in fact $US2.0M, the amount referred to in the original article being in Australian Dollars. Independent confirmation of the media's $US2.0M figure is not available. [ANAN-6/12]
COMING MEETINGS: 25-28 June 2000. IAATO annual meeting. Hobart, Australia. [ANAN-6/13]
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