South Africa
South African annual Antarctica expedition departs

afrol.com, 24 August - South Africa is one of of eight countries with territorial claims on the Antarctic continent. More than that, the Prince Edward Island are internationally recognized South African territory. Thus the annual South African expedition to the Ice Continent, which is due to embark in exactly one week.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has a Directorate for Antarctica and Islands, which is responsible for managing the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP). The deopartment advises that South Africa's 46th relief expedition team personnel will depart on the annual relief voyage to Gough Island, via Tristan da Cunha, on 31 August 2000. 

The team will spend just over a year on this remote and majestic sub-Antarctic island, and is made up as follows: Deryck Yelverton (Radio Technician and Leader), Chris Swanepoel (Diesel Mechanic and Deputy Leader), Brigitte Britz (Medical Orderly), Piet Pieterse (Senior Meteorologist), Nkosazana Maseko (Assistant Meteorologist), Joe Klaasen (Assistant Meteorologist), and four Field Assistants - Richard Cuthbert, Erica Sommer, Linda Mabulu and Pumeza Skepe. These Field Assistants are working on a British-funded joint entomology/ornithology project. 

En route to Gough, the Department's research and supply vessel, the mv S A Agulhas, will drop off 32 visitors, as well as equipment and supplies, at Tristan da Cunha, in accordance with a formal agreement between South Africa and the United Kingdom. A number of weather buoys will also be deployed on behalf of the Weather Bureau. The main aims of the relief voyage are to deploy the new overwintering team on Gough, off-load supplies, back-load as required and return the present team to South Africa. Helicopter support is provided by the South African Air Force team of 11 persons. Routine annual maintenance work will also be undertaken by a National Department of Public Works contingent. 

Two additional tasks of this 8-man team include lifting the helipad and cleaning out the diesel tanks. The relief expedition will be co-ordinated by Alma Human of the Directorate: Antarctica and Islands' Cape Town office - the first woman to lead a SANAP relief expedition. The S A Agulhas is due to arrive back in Table Bay harbour on 30 September 2000.

The annual Antarctic relief voyage is scheduled to depart on 6 December and the Department is presently in the process of recruiting the expedition team. Two Diesel Mechanics, a Medical Doctor, an Electrical Engineer and a Senior Meteorologist are still required for this expedition.

Source: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (S.A.)

© afrol.com. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com