Research Vessel Marion Dufresne

The Marion Dufresne is a French  large, versatile and multi-purpose vessel  owned by French Polar Institute - Paul Emile Victor (IPEV). With its 120.5 meters in length, R/V Marion Dufresne  can operate in all open oceans and seas worldwide, from the tropics to the poles. Designed to operate in severe weather conditions it has two main functions: performing oceanographic research and resupplying the French austral islands of Crozet, Kerguelen, Amsterdam and Saint-Paul. At the same time, it is a passenger liner (for the transport of personnel and visitors to the French austral islands' research stations), a cargo vessel (for the transport of containers and heavy cargo to the stations), a fuel tanker, a helicopter carrier (to provide a base for passengers and light cargo flights), and a multidisciplinary scientific vessel. Its special resupply capabilities make the Marion Dufresne one of the world's largest scientific vessels, with exceptional seaworthiness allowing for work in all weather conditions, and the best research vessel in the world for deep-sea coring. Vessel's name: Marion Dufresne NODC Code 35MF,  Call Sign FNGB. http://www.institut-polaire.fr/

R/V Marion Dufresne is valid for WAP WACA Award, when and if sailing on Antarctic, Sub-Peri Antarctic waters. 

Thanks to Eddy De Busschere from Belgian Polar Expedition Society for having send a nice envelope with covers posted on May 2008 from onboard of it .

D88S better late than never!

Today, I got a  surprise: I received by DS4CNB  by Dr. Lee Dae-Ryung a QSL of D88S. It looks like the situation is getting  fine and I’m  finally happy about this good end of D88S QSL story!

On the rear of the QSL one can read:

About the D88S operator.

My name is Dae-ryung Lee. Home Callsign is DS8CNB Nick name is Captain Lee. I am 16^th  research worker (Electronics & radio operate) in Korea Antarctic Research Station King Sejong. King George Island - South Shetland Islands in Antarctic. I was arrived Nov.24,2002 and researching a environment of electronic & radio operating till Dec 2003 and I’ll return to Pusan, Korea. I was studied radio communication in high school & studied information communication engineering in university and now studying about radio communication correspondence public administration in graduate school. My hobby is HAM, and collecting of International Air envelope, money, stamp.

HI Captain Lee …better late than never!....TNX.

Last news of the 2009 Antarctic cruise expedition

Posted by  Medhi F5PFP
The expedition consists of 6 passengers + 2 crew members. Up to now, we are 2 amateur radio operators and 3 tourists. So, there is one free place and I will not have difficulty in finding the last passenger, but I would like to take with us an excellent CW operator able to manage huge pile ups. Of course I can work CW but I'm not an expert and not really enthusiast. If you know someone who could be interested, please write me at: f5pfp@aliceadsl.fr
Our plan changed a little, we suppressed  Risopatron and Gurruchaga but we added Base "O" Danco Island  WAP GBR-11 located on Danco isl.  which is an old British station situated just North of Videla and Almirante Brown Bases. Antarctic expedition web page updated (Thanks F5NOD)
http://f6kdf.ath.cx/f5nod/Antarcticexpedition2009/Antarcticexpedition2009.html

TNX F5PFP & F5NOD.

ZS8T MARION Island 
Posted by: Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB
We are all patiently awaiting Petrus to activate ZS8T. We are not in the position to promise any dates currently and are crossing fingers that we will be able to bring a full report soon. For the time beings guys please be patient as we all await the activation of ZS8T.
73 Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB
ZS8T Press Officer, Logistical Support
More info at: http://zs8t.net

WAP Directory

Posted by Malcolm K. Johnson VK6LC 

Mal wrote: Today I have completed reading all the WAP WADA detailed Directory. I have only one comment: very well done. This is a great Directory that has high impact of Antarctic information, should be very proud of your efforts as I am. We will get back to WAP things in a few weeks.

73 Mal VK6LC

Always happy when someone says we are working well, this is a great satisfaction, Thanks!

AAp Recruitment 2008-09

From Australian Antarctic Division http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=23915

Feel the need to stretch your wings? Looking for challenges, opportunities and the experience of a lifetime? We may be able to offer you just what you are seeking! Australian Antarctic Division have a range of job vacancies in Antarctica for the 2008-2009 summer and the 2009 winter. Periods of employment vary depending on the type of job:

Summer jobs are generally between early October and March-April. Winter jobs can commence as early as July and run through until November-December of the following year. Short winter stints can also occur between January and November-December in the same year.
TNX  http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=23915

D88S once more about the strange world of QSL

Posted by Josè EA3NW

EA3NW wrote: Few months ago I did receive via direct, the QSL from D88S.This was confirmed by our friend Lee (DS4NMJ) operator of DT8A. Lee did a great job to recover what DS4CNB couldn’t do too well. Yesterday, I got a  surprise: after 5 years, I received another QSL of D88S but this time they were confirmed by DS4CNB operator of D88S.
TNX EA3NW

Well, that’s a good news and like we use to say …better late then never! Enjoy Antarctica, it is a real fascinating world !

To great demand, it returns "The Night of Young Polar Explorers!

Following the great  success of the first event of  “Night of the Museums” held on last May 17th  the MNA re-proposes  “THE NIGHT OF YOUNG POLAR EXPLORERS” at Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide in the city of Genova, Italy next Saturday July 5th .

MNA is the Italian Museum of Antarctica a wonderful center of excellence to live Antarctica for a while. The Night of Young Polar Explorers  includes a true night lived  inside the Museum, sleeping in the red polar tents and  breakfast at early morning, for children from 8 to 13 years; no adults (excepts Guides & Scouts). Information at: ++39-010-2543690, or mna@unige.it . More info at www.mna.it .

MUSEO NAZIONALE DELL'ANTARTIDE

Palazzina Millo, Porto Antico di Genova, 16132 - Genova-Italy

TNX MNA

WAPONLINE  1st Anniversary

It was the 30th of June 2007 at 08:46:39 when we did open  www.waponline.it web site, after years of experience with the old “Dynamic DX Charterhouse” www.ddxc.net/wap  managed at the time by Egidio, IZ8BRI. So exactly  one year now. One year where 15.475 guests did visit  27.850 pages of this unique Antarctic web site dedicated to HAMs , Students, Antarctic followers and enthusiasts worldwide. Thanks to Alessandro IZ1HKE our Web Master,  to Max IK1GPG & Betty IK1QFM and why not … to Gianni I1HYW and to the thousand of friends all over the world who are helping us with articles, QSLs, experiences and appreciation. 

To everybody WAP Staff wish to express gratitude, reminding  that we are doing this kind of job,  just for passion, that kind of  Antarctic Passion we’re sure is the same one that connects all of us to the Icy Continent.

Many thanks from WAP Staff

Midwinter feast in Antarctica

From   Peter Rejcek, The Antarctic Sun  Editor

Summer is well under way in the northern hemisphere, while our friends and family south of the equator are probably still recovering from their midwinter feast gluttony. A few stories for your reading pleasure have been posted at The Antarctic Sun Web site .  

WAP suggests you to read in particular:

McMurdo marks winter solstice with feast .

http://antarcticsun.usap.gov/aroundTheContinent/contentHandler.cfm?id=1201  

Vessel Science & Operations  

http://www.usap.gov/vesselScienceAndOperations/

WAP takes the opportunity, this year also,  to wish Happy Midwinter to all the friends down South!

Keep up the good work guys.

NEW QSL loaded on the WAP Gallery
Several "New Entries" on WAP QSL Gallery as well as several new pictures on WAP Photo Gallery have been loaded; just pay a visit if you wish to get them.
In addition the cards of R1ANR Novo Runway (WAP-MNB-Ø6) are coming, those who did not get them yet, have just to wait  a little bit, but be sure the operator will answer everybody.
TNX Gita OM5MF for having send his R1ANR for the Gallery. 

Antarctica …what a great deal…

Posted by Gita Lukacková OM5MF

I went to sleep yesterday with nice feeling. I was thinking about how you should be happy that something new and rare will be putted to your great WAP database. I was thinking about Ken Randall VP8HF, how he should be happy and lucky that you got his QSL card and after so long time somebody is interested in his story and I was thinking about Jukka OH2BR also  how is he happy because he has QSL card which made happy few people.

In Finland, I did install IK6CAC WAP software to Jukka  PC and I did put in all his QSL card  found in his collection. But what is nice, is that Jukka continues in this job because he wrote me that he found next QSL cards. I am very curious what Miika OH2BAD may have. He will send me list of Antarctic stations, he has at home. Miika and Jukka are brothers.

73/88 Gita OM5MF

WAP wish to thank Gita OM5MF for her kind words and for having spread in Finland the great Antarctic Passion!

Ken Randall G3RFH aka VP8HF/VP8 & VP8HF/MM

Just by luck, I have received an Old Antarctic QSL, by Gita OM5MF who went to visit friends in Finland. OH2BR is the owner of VP8HF/VP8 QSL which did capture my attention.

WAP is interested in keeping a reliable Dbase of stations operating in Antarctica as well as Sub & Peri-Antarctic Areas, so this brand new (even old) calls did merit a bit of thorough examination. Thanks to the kindness of Ken G3RFH, the WW Antarctic chasers can now get the true history of that operation on the South Sanwich. It will be posted here on the WAP page shortly and the full original version of what Ken Randall did write about it,  will be insert on the next release of the WAP Directory which will be on line in a while. Ken was on board of HMS Protector down in Antarctica in the year 1964 where he did operate as VP8HF/MM. Ken did also operate as VP8HF/VP8 from a British Base in Candlemas Island in the same year. VP8HF/VP8 is therefore a new WAP reference as soon as Ken will confirm us some more details.

For now we thank Gen Randall G3RFH-VP8HF/VP8 immensely as he did help us to rebuild the Antarctic epic. Like I said more information and details will come up shortly

Stay with us and enjoy Antarctica as much as we do.

TNX OM5MF, OH2BR & G3RFH

Ken wrote: I can give you the full SS story as I wrote it in 1964 - I sent it to ARRL and RSGB but they only published a small paragraph so it has never been published in full. It covers 8 pages and will take me sometime to get it on disc and I have several black & white photos also.

WAP will be honored and pleased to publish the full version and let it available for the Antarctic chasers.

About the now a days matter .
VP8 be or not to be… this is the question!
We Antarctic chasers are pretty foregiving because we know that  everything in Antarctica is pretty informal and nobody owns it.  The CEPT program is not a treaty.  It is an agreement to try to  harmonize rules and each country is free to participate or not  participate as it wishes.  The United Kingdom specifically  EXCLUDED the Falklands and other overseas territories when it agreed  to join CEPT. The VP8 license is not part of the CEPT agreement, the reason for this,  is historical in that the islands cover a fair bit of the South Atlantic and the only way the islanders could communicate in the days before radio telephone,  was on the amateur bands, and to avoid the locals having to study and sit an exam they could purchase a license for local use (although it did not restrict that from actually working the world). A VP8 life-license in the Falklands till now,  can be purchase by £20. But the  most important thing to get a proper license is that we  don't want  amateurs who operate in Antarctica to get a bad reputation as 'pirates'.

Antarctic memories ..... 

by Alan Cheshire VK6CQ / VK0LD / VP8PJ  http://www.geocities.com/vk0ld/home.html

CE9/VP8AEO was active from Marsh/Frei  and was genuine. He was the engineer with the British company installing the communications facilities (including 10kW HF TX's) at the then new base for the Chilean military. It was all part of a much bigger deal the British Ministry of Defence had struck with the military junta that was in power at the time. In fact, it was almost CE9/VP8PJ, but I was re-deployed elsewhere at the last minute and Ric went instead. From memory, the use of the callsign was acceptable to the Chileans, because the callsign indicated a Falkland Islands station operating in 'Antartida Chilena' (CE9). Chile has always recognized British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, so that was not an issue.  Also from memory, I think the VP8 license home QTH was simply 'Falkland Islands',  with no mention of 'British Antarctic Territory' or "South Shetland Islands'.  It wasn't difficult to work him when he fired up the 10kW TX's into the North pointing Log-Periodic, that's for sure!
TNX Alan Cheshire VK6CQ / VK0LD / VP8PJ 

G7MAR/MM QSLs are  on the way

I’ve just received QSL cards with interesting covers on it,  by John for his last activity as G7MAR/MM from Antarctica on board of the M/V Saga Ruby.

This QSL is on the WAP QSL Gallery and contacts with M/V Saga Ruby are valid for WAP-WACA Award, when/if the ship is sailing Antarctic or Sub-Antarctic waters.

TNX G7MAR

More Special event QSLs coming up

We would like to congratulate our friend Ciro Accardo I8ACB for his huge activity with special WAP callsigns  for both AAW (Antarctic Activity Week) and IPY (International Polar Year). I8ACB has been recently active as IR8PS & II8IPY but he is also a keen Antarctic Hunter! Cards have been loaded on the WAP QSL Gallery which is freely available to the chasers. Pay a visit and enjoy  the nearly 1500 QSLs, 200 Polar ships  and 220 Philatelic stamps, covers & envelopes.

WAP … the Antarctic Passion lives here!