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More regulation on Antarctic shipping proposed {Gadling}
Dec 29th 2009 5:17PM Having just returned from the Antarctic Treaty conference in Wellington, I may be able to add some insight to Kraig's posting. Regarding the banning of heavy fuel, this had already been decided earlier in the year at IMO (International Maritime Organization). This is expected to come into effect mid-2011, at which time a number of tourist vessels will vacate the Antarctic market and overall visitors are expected to drop from about 37,000 (projected this season) to less than 30,000 for the 2011-12 season. This is quite a change from the 47,000 that visited in 2006-07. The Wellington meeting did come up with 17 recommendations that will be forwarded to the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Uruguay in May. Rather than suggesting much in the way of new regulations, these recommendations reinforce existing regulatory structures and oversight already in place, not only within the Treaty System, but with port and flag state authorities and with the aforementioned IMO and other maritime regulatory agencies. IAATO and its members look forward to working with the Treaty Parties to ensure safe and environmentally responsible travel to Antarctica.
Steve
Executive Director
International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators
http://www.iaato.org
Auspicious start to Antarctic tourist season {Gadling}
Nov 19th 2009 3:56PM Hi, Kraig:
I wanted to make a few comments on your posting earlier today:
There is no evidence that most of the fuel aboard the Explorer was released during or after the vessel's sinking. I agree that it's not doing anyone any good sitting down there at the bottom of the Southern Ocean, but what was released during the mishap quickly evaporated (as light-grade marine gas oil) before touching any shore. There have been no sighting of oil or gas slicks or seepage in the months or years following the November 2007 sinking.
According to the Liberian flag-state report on the incident that was released this past April, the Explorer was holed due to an error in judgement in attempting to break through a tongue of multi-year ice. To say that the ship hit an iceberg implies that this happened unexpectedly and without warning, which was not the case.
Finally, you note that tourism ship traffic is increasing at the bottom of the world. The number of vessels and voyages actually decreased during the 2008-2009 season and will likely continue to do so this austral summer and for at least the next five summers, based on a survey of Antarctic ship operators which I undertook the past few months. For anyone interested in actual statistics on Antarctic tourism, please visit our website at www.iaato.org.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment.
Regards,
Steve
Executive Director
International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators
