ANARE Club members are often curious about which ships and planes travel South to Antarctica during the season. It is a hobby that to some such as Colin Christiansen has developed into a full-time pastime. Colin has gathered information over the past Antarctic seasons, part of which is reproduced here, featuring Australian connections.

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AIS

Automatic Identification System, no apparent reference to ship identification but a very important component of the Global Maritime Distress & Safety System, (GMDSS). Originally developed as a simple anti collision system, whereby a ship would transmit position and course information on VHF radio, heard by ships in the vicinity. The technology of course developed and ultimately this data could be heard by orbiting satellites and with data available from terrestrial receivers is now readily available on the Internet by several providers. Unfortunately for hobbyist ship trackers the full satellite data can be very expensive, however the terrestrial data from many sites is readily available, even with free, limited provider accounts. So, with available AIS data, Port movement data, the National Antarctic organisation websites, ship and shore webcams, and a degree of guesswork it is possible to form a fairly accurate view of movement of the International Antarctic fleet.

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Ship-Spotting Antarctica the 24/25 season

Colin Christiansen

Australia

Nuyina completed voyages 1 to 5 of the AAP shipping schedule successfully. Resupply of Davis, Casey, Mawson and Macquarie Island with on voyage marine science. Several fueling visits to Burnie. A late season medical evacuation voyage to Macquarie Island. Nuyina’s webcam, always high quality time lapse views but this season outstanding views on V3 of the Denman Glacier area and the cliffs of the Shackleton Iceshelf. Similarly at Mawson on V2 with fine weather during changeover and the ships movement in Kista Strait and in close to Horseshoe Harbour beautiful views of the station, islands, ice cliffs and the plateau and mountains.

An interesting development. Aiviq used by the Australian Antarctic Program in the 21/22 and 22/23 seasons is now owned by the U.S. Coast Guard, renamed Storis, based in Juneau Alaska and currently on patrol in the Arctic Ocean.

New Zealand

HMNZS Aotearoa took on fuel for McMurdo at Geelong oil refinery in late January, arriving McMurdo 10 February 2025 and departing 12 February, returning to Devonport Naval Base, Auckland and subsequently to Singapore’s Sambawang dockyard.

U.S.A.

Research Vessel Nathanial B Palmer, from its base in Punta Arenas in Chile visited Palmer Station in the Antarctic Peninsular and between November 2024 through May 2025 a science voyage in the Southern Ocean South of Australia and New Zealand and into the Ross Sea. Several visits were made to Lyttelton.

The other U.S. research vessel of many years service the Laurence M. Gould did not come South this season, its charter was not renewed. Similarly, it has been suggested that the Charter for the Nathanial B Palmer is also at risk under U.S. cutbacks.

The U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker Polar Star again supported operations in the Ross Sea and McMurdo area. Coming South from her Seattle base, via Pearl Harbour and Sydney she arrived in the McMurdo area early January 2025, remaining until early March. Returning to the U.S. via French Polynesia, Papeete. Polar Star entered service in 1976 and is well past her design life, however, it is intended that she will continue to support the U.S. Operation Deep Freeze until the replacement Polar Security Cutter Polar Sentinel comes into service in 2030. Accordingly, Polar Star is undergoing an extensive service life extension program.

Cargo ships Ocean Giant and Ocean Gladiator have individually visited McMurdo in recent years, however, this year both ships have come South! As well as delivering cargo for McMurdo Station and Scott Base clearly this summer much cargo is being taken away. The webcam on the wharf is most interesting viewing!

As noted above New Zealand’s Navy replenishment ship HMNZS Aotearoa delivered fuel to McMurdo and Scott Base this season.

CANADA

Canada comes South! HMCS Margaret Brooke came South in Operation Projection. From Punta Arenas, Chile she sailed South across Drake Passage and from late February to late March undertook science in the Antarctic Peninsular, visiting stations of Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Spain, South Korea, Ukraine, the U.S. and going South of the Antarctic Circle visiting the U.K. Rothera base. Nice coverage by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Circumnavigation of South America was also an objective of Operation Projection with official visits to the Navys of South America

ARGENTINA

Argentine Navy ships Almirante Irizar, Puerto Argentino and Bahia Agradable, operating from Ushuaia on Terra del Fuego supported Argentine station on the Antarctic Peninsular and South Orkneys. Icebreaker Almirante Irizar goes further South to Belgrano Station at 78 degrees South in the Weddell Sea. A rescue operation was undertaken by Bahia Agradable which came to the assistance of Chile’s Betanzos towing her to a safe anchorage in Discovery Bay, Greenwich Island in the South Shetlands.

BRAZIL

Almirante Maximiano and Ary Rongel of the Brazil Navy made several voyages in support of the Commante Ferraz station on King George Island, and scientific programs across the South Shetlands. While Rio de Janiero is the home port of these two ships, through the season calls were made to Rio Grande in Southern Brazil, Montevideo in Uruguay and Punta Arenas in Chile.

The new ship Almirante Saldanha which will replace Ary Rongel, is under construction at the Shipyard of Jurong Aracruz, North of Rio de Janiero, launch is planned for 2025.

Interestingly Ary Rongel, as Polar Queen (1) sailed in the Australian Antarctic Program in 1981.

CHILE

Chile’s Navy operates an “Antarctic trio”, the new icebreaker built in Chile, the Almirate Viel, Maritime Patrol vessel Marinero Fuentealba and tug Lientur which are based in Punta Arenas. Scientific support vessel Betanzos owned by a private company DAP is available to INACH (Instituto Antártico Chileno) who coordinate the various Chilean scientific organisations.

Almirante Viel sailed on her maiden voyage this season visiting all Chilean Station and conducting ice trials in Marguerite Bay, at approximately 68 degrees South.

Chile’s stations are managed variously by Chiles Army, Navy, Airforce and INACH. The Air Force, Fuerza Aérea de Chile FACh, operates an International standard airport, Marsh, on King George Island whilch is extensively used by all the National programs with stations in the Antarctic Peninsular area for personal transfers. Also now used for tourist transfers with cruise ships.

As noted in Argentina above Betanzos suffered a propulsión problem and was initially towed to safety by Argentine ship Bahia Agradable. Subsequently she was towed across Drake Passage by Chilean tug Beagle to a Punta Arenas dockyard facility.

PERU

Peru Navy ship Carrasco from her home port of Callao, Peru, operates through the Antarctic season from Punta Arenas, mainly in support of Peru’s station Machu Pichu in Admiralty Bay, King George Island. Visits were also made within Admiralty Bay to Ferraz of Brazil and Arctowski of Poland and various other stations in the South Shetlands and Deception Island.

URUGUAY

Uruguay’s Navy replenishment tanker General Artigas, from its Southern base of Punta Arenas resupplied Artigas Station, returning to home port of Montevideo 15 February 2025.

SOUTH AFRICA

S.A. Agulhas II visited Tristan da Cuhna and Gough Island in September 2024, In December 2024 resupplied Marion Island and in late December went directly South from Marion Island to the Fimbal Ice Shelf and SANAE IV ice edge. She was alongside the ice edge with short excursions away from 26 December to 2 February 2025. On return to South Africa she visited East London, a public open day, before returning to her home port of Cape Town. In April 2025 there was another voyage to Marion Island in April and May.

S.A. Agulhas (I) Since being replaced by S.A. Agulhas II in 2012 is a training ship of the South Africa Merchant Navy. Most unusually in February 2025 it was noted west of Kerguelen and Heard Island and heading South! She came down to approximately 64 degrees South and turned on a Westerly course. On March 5 she was only about 70 Nautical Miles North of Mawson. On 7 March she made a rendezvous with the Indian expedition ship Vasily Golovnin about 50 Naurtical Miles off Enderby Land. Then returning North, arriving at Port Louis Mauritius on 28 March 2025.

U.K.

Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, after a summer season in Greenland departed her home port of Harwich 13 October 2024. With stops at Funchal, Maderia and, briefly, Recife in Brazil and in early November arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay. From Montevideo to East Cove, Falklands. The first voyage South was to Rothera. Through the season there were several visits to all British bases of Rothera, Signy and Bird Island and King Edward Point on South Georgia. Several visits were made back to the Falklands. In early December there was a period of marine science near the South Sandwich Islands. In the course of the summer there were visits to other national stations/bases, including the United States at Palmer Station and the Ukraine base Vernadsky. A late, final call for the season was to Rothera in June, departing 17 June. Midwinter was celebrated at anchor at Elephant Island. Then a last call at the Falklands, a visit to Maderia, and returning to Harwich home port 23 July 2025.

Royal Navy ship HMS Protector, after a period in a Chilean Navy dockyard came South in late December, sailing down the Antarctic Peninsular and berthing at Rothera on Christmas Day, in company with RRS Sir David Attenborough. A visit to Vernadsky and heading North across Drake Passage. A final visit to Punta Arenas before sailing North through the Magellan Strait and the Atlantic. A visit to Brazil, Recife and Praia in the Cape Verde’s. Arriving back in Portsmouth in early May 2025.

BULGARIA

Bulgarian navy research ship RSV421 (Research Survey Vessel) departed her home port of Varna on the Black Sea in early November. A call at Cartagena, Spain, through the Strait of Gibraltar and down the Atlantic with visits to Mar del Plata and Ushuaia in Argentina. Spending most of the season in the Antarctic Peninsular area mainly in support of Bulgarian station St Kliment Ohridski but with visits to Spanish and numerous other stations. In February she sailed North across Drake Passage, calls at Comodoro Rivadavia and Mar del Plata in Argentina and Salvador in Brazil. On 23 March sailed through Gibraltar, stopping at Cartagena, Spain and ending the voyage at home port of Varna April 12 2025.

FRANCE

L’Astrolabe made four voyages from Hobart to Dumont dur Ville, The second voyage calling in at Macquarie Island. Voyage VR1 of the Australian Antarctic Program.

Marion Dufrense continued her routine from Reunion of visiting French Territory (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises (TAAF)) of Tromelin, Gloerieuses, Mayotte, Juan de Nova, Bassas da India, Europa in the Indian Ocean and Mozambique Channel, and in the Southern Ocean Crozet, New Amsterdam and Kerguelen.

GERMANY

From Walvis Bay in Namibia, Polarstern made several visits to Neumayer III station in Atka Bay and Marine Science in the Weddell Sea through January and February. In March went North, bunkering in the Falklands on the way. After returning to home port of Bremerhavn she went North for an extended period in the Arctic Ocean

Cargo ship Silver Mary of the Danish Royal Arctic Line delivered cargo to Neumayer III ice edge in late January. Silver Mary was also charted to Norway.

ITALY

Laura Bassi departed Ceuta, Italy in early November 2023, bound Antarctica via Panama and arriving Lyttelton New Zealand 12 December. Several visits were made to Zuchelli in January and early February and returning to Lyttelton on three occasions. Most of February was spent on Marine Science in the Ross Sea. Return to Italy was across the South Pacific, around Cape Horn and up the Atlantic. Arriving Milazzo, Sardinia and finally alongside at Trieste 20/4/25, where she wintered.

Interestingly Laura Bassi had been previously the Ernest Shackleton with the British Antarctic Survey and as Polar Queen (2) in 1999 with the Australian Antarctic Program.

NORWAY

Cargo for inland station Troll was delivered to the adjacent ice edge by Danish Royal Arctic Line ship, Silver Mary (Norway registration). Silver Mary had come down the Atlantic stopping at Cape Town. She was also charted by Germany delivering cargo for Neumayer III after the Troll operation.

RUSSIA

Akademik Federov departed St Petersburg early November, arriving Cape Town 26/11. Leaving Cape Town for South to Molodezhnaya, and nearby Belarus summer station Vechernyaya, Progress station in the Larsemann’s and Mirny, returning to Cape Town in late January 2025. Departing Cape Town again early February going back to Mirny and Progress. In Early March departed Prydz Bay, Westbound to Molodezhnaya and Vechernyaya. then further west to the ice edge off Novolazarevskaya, and a final visit to Cape Town. At end of March departed Cape Town and Northbound for St Petersburg arriving 24/4.

Akademik Tryoshnikov departed St Petersburg late October, Southbound across the Atlantic to Rio Grande Brazil. From Rio Grande a period of Marine science East of the South Sandwich islands.

Then to the Novolazrevskaya ice edge in early December. Then to Progress/Larsemann’s, Mirny and the Bunger Hills. Then Eastbound coming close to Casey and Dumont dur Ville, the Ross Sea and towards the Antarctic Peninsular. In late January visited Bellingshausen, and the complex of stations nearby on King George Island and also Brazil station Ferraz in Admiralty Bay, King George Island. Northbound to Rio Grande Brazil in early February. Coming South again, a visit to Montevideo and down to the South Shetlands and Bellingshausen. Then Westbound to Russkaya! Russkaya in Marie Byrd Land, East Antarctica had been active from 1980 to 1990 and reactivation is now planned. Akademik Tryoshnikov then returned to the South Shetlands and Bellingshausen. Then Eastbound to the ice edge off Novolazrevskaya. She then sailed up to Cape Town and into drydock in early April. Out of the dockyard Cape Town in early June, Northbound, arrival in home port of St Petersburg 21/7.

Only a short stay in St Petersburg for Akademik Tryoshnikov! In early August sailing for Murmansk and the Arctic Ocean, Reported in the Barents Observer 16 September 2025, to be at 87 degrees 16 Minutes North, less than 170 Naurtical Miles from the North Pole, relieving the Russian Arctic drifting expedition SP42, ship Severny Polus (North Pole).

SPAIN

Three Spanish research ships came South this season. Hesperides, Sarimento de Gamboa and Odon de Buen. Southern base was Punta Arenas in Chile. All visited Spain’s stations Juan Carlos I on Livingston Island in the South Shetlands, and Garbrel de Castella on Deception Island, with various visits to other station in South Shetlands.

UKRAINE

Noosfera winters in Cape town. In mid December 2023 sails from Cape Town directly to the Antarctic Peninsular and relieving visits to Polish station Arctowski and Ukraine station Vernadsky. Through the summer several voyages are made between South America, Punta Arenas and the Antarctic Peninsular area. Arctowski, Vernadsky, U.S. Palmer station and the complex of station on King George Island are visited often. Final departure from the area in mid April, to Punta Arenas and returning to Cape Town 11 May 2025

CHINA

Xue Long departs Shanghai in early November, Fremantle mid November and arriving in Prydz Bay, off Zongshan in early December. Xue Long 2 had come directly from China and had met with Xue Long about 22/11 and the two shipshad sailed South in company. The Progress webcam in this period clearly showing fast ice to the horizon and contact with Zongshan was by helicopter. In late December Xue Long departed the Larsemann’s, West bound for the Antarctic Peninsular area and Great Wall station. Through late January Xue Long was working East of Clarence and Elephant Islands, and the South Orkenys. Then Eastbound returned to Pridz Bay and Zongshan, where the seaice had cleared and staying in the area for several weeks in early March. In mid March departed the Larsmann’s bound Fremantle. Departing Fremantle26 March, bound Shanghai arriving 19 April 2024.

Xue Long 2 from off Zongshan has sailed Eastbound, for the Ross Sea and the new Qinling Station on Inexpressible Island in the Ross Sea, in late December. Then North to Lyttelton brierfly in ealy January. Then a period of marine science South of New Zealand, and returning to Qinling in Late February and through March and early April working in Ross Sea area. Mid April North bound visiting Hobart in late March. Then via Australia East coast, North of New Guinea and the Philipines, visiting a Naval Port in Thailand. Finally returning to China and drydocking.

In late July a departure for the Arctic Ocean!

JAPAN

Shirase departs home port Yokosuka in late November bound Fremantle. On departing Fremantle sailed directly to Syowa. After a period battling sea ice Shirase arrived at Syowa late in December 2023. Very nice views on the Syowa webcam. In early February she came up to Fremantle in late February then sailed South for the area of the Totten Glacier, working in the area through March. Then returning to Fremantle and Northbound for Japan arriving home port of Yokosuka 21 April 2025

SOUTH KOREA

After a Northern summer season in the Arctic Araon sailed fron homeport of Gwangyang in early November 2023, bound for Lyttelton NZ via North of New Guinea, The Coral Sea, Tasman Sea and Cook Strait, arriving Lyttelson 19/11. Through the season five visits were made to Jang Bogo station, on the West side of the Ross Sea. Four visits were made to Lyttelton, Much time was spend on marine science in the Ross Sea, Cape Adare area and to the South of the Australian east coast and New Zealand. In mid March Araon was only 90 Nautical Miles SW of Macquarie Island. Final departure from Lyttelton on 24 March arriving Gwangyang26 April 2025.

King Sejong, the Korean statiion on King George Island in the South Shetlands is re-supplied by a Chilean charted cargo ship the Lenga based in Punta Arenas. This year Lenga sailed from Punta Arenas 30 December 2023, at King Sejong from 3 to 6 January. Back across Drake Passage and finishing at Punta Arenas.

INDIA

Russian cargo ship Vasily Golovnin sailed from Cape Town mid January arriving Prydz Bay in early February and off Bharati station in mid February, departing late February. Sailing Westward she arrived at the ice edge off Matri on March 18, staying until early April. Then Northbound to Cape Town arriving 16 April 2025.

Other research ships

Research Vessel Tangaroa of Earth Sciences New Zealand made a voyage into the Ross Sea, in February.

Allankay of Sea Shepherd did a cruise to the Antarctic Peninsular from Ushuaia.

Falkor Too of the Schmidt Ocean Institute was working in the Bellingshausen Sea, West of the Antarctic Peninsular, in late January 2025. On 23 January 2024 a large section of the nearby George VI iceshelf broke away, formally becoming iceberg A84. Falkor Too was nearby and in the unique position to immediately move into the area and investigate a part of the sea floor that had never been exposed for science investigation!

Later, after a visit to Punta Arenas Falkor Too continued marine science in the area at South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands.

Dagon of Inkfish Inc did a cruise from Punta Arenas to the Antarctic Peninsular visiting King George Island, Elephant Island, Deception Island.

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See the Club website for links used to compile the above information.