Antarctic New Zealand  reports that today,  oct. 13 2021,  Scott Base observed a few minutes of silence to remember two of our own. Kiwis Garth Varcoe and Terry Newport were tragically killed in a helicopter crash in 1992 while returning from a maintenance trip to the Hut at Cape Bird.

The team gathered today at the flagpole, where the men’s names are commemorated on a plaque, to reflect on their contributions to Antarctica.

TNX Antarctic New Zealand

Cape Bird Hut on Ross Island, Antarctica  at 77°13’ 05” South, 166°26’ 09”East was a shelter, built in 1966 with the name of Harrison Laboratory, in order to give a facility to the researchers working at Cape Bird.

The hut, which could accommodate six people, was built at Scott Base (WAP NZL-Ø1) during the winter and lifted by helicopter to Cape Bird. The shelter was then rebuilt in 1991 nearby the old one designated, in the meantime, as Antarctic Special Protected Area, ASPA 116.

On the side of the newest Hut there is an other small service shelter. The main Hut wich can guest 8 people,  is equipped with a kitchen with propane stove and freezer, has a central heat from a diesel-burning  system. Its front windows look out over McMurdo Sound and the Ross Sea.

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Years ago, for us Radioamateurs, it was quite easy to work the New Zealand Scott Base on HF and it was a fantastic experience for many of the lucky Hams. On the last years, nobody was able to be active from there!

Many of the very interesting sites, such as Huts, Refuges, Field Camps  are still waiting someone to operate from there. Cape Bird Hut is frequently visited during the Austral summer season by researchers who are going to stay there for a little while. As far as we know no activity on HF have been performer from this site … a real shame!

Hopeful and sure to interpret the desire of the thousands Radioamateurs around the worl, let’s say that the best dream at WAP, is that the Radio becomes as, it once was, an instrument of union between people and for us Radioamateurs, that the voice of Antarctica returns to be heard al lover the world.

James Ross Island is a large island off the southeast side and near the northeastern extremity of the Antarctic Peninsula, from which it is separated by Prince Gustav Channel.

Rising to 1,630 metres (5,350 ft), it is irregularly shaped and extends 40 miles (64 km) in a north–south direction. It was charted in October 1903 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition under Otto Nordenskiöld, who named it for Sir James Clark Ross, the leader of a British expedition to this area in 1842 that discovered and roughly charted a number of points along the eastern side of the island. The James Ross Island core drilled to bedrock in 2008 by the British Antarctic Survey provided an unprecedented record of soot deposition in the northern Antarctic Peninsula during the past 2000 years and revealed the surprising impacts of Māori burning in New Zealand starting in the late 13th century

In the years 2006/07, a small amount of cargo was pre-deployed to the chosen drilling site. The majority of the cargo and personnel were transported to the site by HMS Endurance, and deployed to the field using the helicopters in early January 2008. A small team of seven on site successfully drilled an ice core from the surface, reaching the bed of the ice at 363 m depth. Following logging of the borehole, the fluid was removed from the hole for reuse on a later project, and to minimize environmental impact. Further operational support was provided during the middle of the season by the BAS Twin Otters flying from Rothera to recover the ice cores to freezers at Rothera, and to assist with rapid uplift at the end of the season in February 2008, when the entire field infrastructure and remaining ice cores were removed from the field, leaving a clear site.

British Drill Camp, at 64°12’ South, 57°41’ West on James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula The British Drill Cam,  was set and operationl for a brief period of time (2007/2008). The site was removed  on Febr. 2008. Even if we have no evidence of any Ham radio activity from there, we at WAP, have decided to insert it on  WAP-WADA Directory as WAP-GBR-NEW.

Read more at: The James Ross Island and the Fletcher Promontory ice-core drilling projects | Annals of Glaciology | Cambridge Core

Oleg, ZS1ANF who did operate as ZS7ANF and RI1ANX from Wolf’s Fang Runway (WAP MNB-12) on the Antarctic inland ice in Queen Maud Land during the past Antarctic summer seasons, will be working again at the same Ice Runway Station in the upcoming summer season 2021/2022.

When QRL and work time permits, Oleg will be active with the call RI6ØANT (WAP-335) in the event of the 6Ø years anniversary of the Antarct Treaty Signature.

QSL via RZ3EC.

Wolf’s Fang Runway is located 71° 31′ South, 08° 48′ East, 1127m AMSL. The Runway is 3000 mts long and 60 mts wide. The fuel supply for aircrafts that land and take off at Wolf’s Fang,  is possible with the assistance of the South Africa’s science vessel. The fuel supply is delivered to the edge of Antarctica, where a traverse Team embarks on a journey of 800 km across the Fimbul ice shelf to Wols’s Fang Runway.

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TNX UA6GG & DL8JDX

Kizahashi Hut is located at 69°28’ South, 39°35’ East in a beach at the headland on Skarvsnes, one of the islands of the Flatvaer group on the coast of Queen Maud Land.

Flatvaer Islands (in Norwegian: Flatvær, means “flat islands”), also known as the Ongul Islands, are a group of small islands lying at the east side of the entrance of Lützow Holm Bay, 4 km from the Antarctica coastline.

Kizahashi-hama (Kizahashi beach) was mapped from survey and aerial photographs taken during the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) 1957-1962. The name Kizahashi-hama was given by JARE in 1972.

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Kizahashi Hut at Skarvsnes stands among a field camp which consists of the main hut, a generator hut, a small (green) lab hut and a series of small tents for sleeping and work. The North Face dome tent is a science tent.

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At the light of this evidence, Kizahashi Hut will enter into the WAP-WADA Directory as WAP JPN-NEW and more precisely:

Kizahashi Hut

69°28’ South, 39°35’ East

Skarvsnes,  Lützow Holm Bay, Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica

As far as we know, Kizahashi-hama Hut is frequently visited by a Team of scientist from Japan and other different Countries who are going there for marine life observation and scientific measurement such as Geosphere and to check  maintain the AWS (Automatic Weather Station) nearby at  69º28′25″ South, 39º36′43″ East.

TNX Yath Yoshikawa JG2MLI  and Gabriele IK1NEG

Sovetskaya , 77° 58’ South, 89° 16 East was a Soviet research station in  Kaiser Wilhelm Land in Antarctica that was established on 16 February 1958 by the 3rd  Soviet Antarctic Expedition  on International Geophisic Year research work, and closed on 3 January 1959.

Antarctic Comrades (An American with the Russians in Antarctica) is  a book written by  Gilbert Dewart (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159608932.pdf) . On it, Gilbert Dewart reports about a Sovietskaya Refuge (or Base) Here some paragraphs. We, have just add the WAP References for the sites mentioned:

… Another trail party left Mirnyy (WAP RUS-Ø7) that December: it took more fuel and supplies to Vostok, then returned to Komsomolskaya (WAP RUS-Ø5) and set out from there on a new heading in pursuit of the distant Pole of inaccessibility  (WAP RUS-NEW) –see pic aside to the right-.

Again the going was very tough, and with the season becoming dangerously late, the party pulled up at an intermediate spot on February 16, 1958, and opened Sovetskaya Station 11,700 feet above the sea. Though this position was unplanned, it was near enough to the goal, and for the scientific purpose of studying the extreme interior of the polar ice sheet it would serve as well. Six men wintered here under the leadership of V. K. Babarykin. Sovetskaya and Vostok stations both set new world records for low temperatures that winter, the final extreme minimum being-87.4° C (-125° F) at Vostok, so the Russians could now claim the “Pole of Cold.” With the three stations established on the ice plateau, plus Mirnyy, Pionerskaya, and Oazis, they now had six permanent bases in Antarctica for the second phase of the IGY in 1958. The Third Expedition, commanded by Ye. I. Tolstikov, operated this array of scientific stations.

The site was occupied for only two weeks, until the official end of the IGY, then abandoned, though the shelters and basic equipment were left intact for future use.

With the Fourth Expedition, directed by A. G. Dralkin, the Soviet Antarctic Program underwent retrenchment and a change in focus. The personnel complement was reduced from 185 to 113 men, and Sovetskaya (WAP RUS-NEW), Pionerskaya (WAP RUS-10), and Oazis (WAP RUS-NEW) were closed down in January

1959 (Oazis station was turned over to a small Polish contingent, but the Russo-Polish relationship proved acrimonious, and the Poles soon abandoned it).

Komsomolskaya was converted to seasonal use as a weather station and logistical support base for air operations in the summer. On the other hand, two thousand miles to the west, on the coast of Queen Maud Land, a landing party from the Ob established a new permanent station which was named, with history in mind again, for M. P. Lazarev, Bellingshausen’s second-in-command. Lazarev Station (WAP RUS-NEW) was intended as the base for an investigation of a nearby ice shelf and for an ambitious geological exploration program in a range of little-known mountains a short distance inland.

WAP have no evidence of any Hams that did ever operate HF from Sovetskaya Base, Lazarev and Oazis.
Thanks and credit to: Одинокий и холодный Ленин на «Полюсе недоступности» (фотогалерея) (rferl.org)

Collins Refuge,  62º 10’ South, 58º 50’ 57” West, is an Antarctic shelter located in the Collins Glacier in the Collins Bay,  Fildes Peninsula, King George Island.

It was inaugurated at the 2006-2007 season and is administrated by the Instituto Antarctico Chileno (INACH).

It has capacity for six persons in summer, and it is used for scientific research. It has communications with HF and VHF radio, satellite telephony and the logistical support comes from the Professor Julio Escudero Base (WAP CHL-Ø7), by sea.

INACH counts two refuges throughout the Chilean Antarctic Territory: Collins (WAP CHL-16) and Julio Ripamonti (WAP CHL-Ø3).  They allow geographic displacement through the territory.

The Collins Refuge stands as one of the main housing supports on the ground for Antarctic work in Fildes Bay with a laboratory module as well as magnifying glasses and microscopes are available.  A laboratory module as well as magnifying glasses and microscopes are available.

A 350 hp Yamaha ATV is also available. The Refuge (sometimes called Base) replaced one with the same name, built in 1969, given to the Uruguay Antartic Institute in 1984 and dismantled in 1989, located in where today is the Artigas Base from Uruguay.

Artigas (WAP URY-Ø1), located at 62° 11’South,  58° 51’West is a small year round Station widely spread over a mainly flat area above Collins Harbor towards the east of Maxwell Bay. The station was established in 1984 and is operated by the Instituto Antarctico Uruguayo (IAU), which is part of the Ministry of National Defense.

Antarctic Treaty Inspections Programme Report 2014-15, shows at page 90 a visit jointly undertaken by the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic in accordance with Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 of the Environmental Protocol, done  on January 2015 by a group of observers  of the two Nations.

(see: https://documents.ats.aq/ATCM38/att/ATCM38_att092_e.pdf)

Near  Eco-Nelson WAP CZE-Ø1 (a nongovernmental Czech facility) there is a small Refuge approximately 1 km to the east of that facility, around a small headland and situated approximately 20 meters above a gravel and rock beach.

Located at 62° 15’ South, 58° 59’ West on Nelson island the Refuge consists of a shipping container, flanked by two smaller containers. The main building contains several bunk-beds, a large amount of assorted bedding and blankets and a small store of water bottles, fruit juice and medicine.

The Refuge  was linked to, or had been used by staff from, the Great Wall Station, China (WAP CHN-Ø1). The shipping container is in poor condition with extensive rusting and exterior deterioration. A large, apparently empty, rusting gas cylinder was being used to hold the door closed.

A smaller container adjacent to the main building held a collection of waste material. The door to this structure had rusted away completely leaving the contents open to the snow and wind.

A third small container lay approximately 10m to the east and was partially filled with snow. This contained a half-full 200lt blue plastic fuel barrel, apparently containing a heating and cooking fuel such as white spirit.

The visitors’ book in the shipping container indicated that this refuge was occasionally visited by those living in the nearby vicinity, including from the Eco-Nelson facility, and it contained relatively recent entries. However, the refuge was now in very poor condition, and without adequate supplies, was not in a suitable state to act as a genuine refuge in case of a serious emergency or accident nearby.

At the light of these evidences, Stansbury Peninsula Refuge, 62°15′ South, 58°59′ West, Stansbury Peninsula, of Nelson Island,  between Edge Bay and  Fildes Starit, King George Island in the South Shetland Islands,  will enter  into the WAP-WADA Directory as WAP CHN-NEW.

As soon as an HF  Ham Radio operation from this location will  maybe on air  a relater reference number will be given.

On last August 30, 2021, a ceremony was held at the facility of the Ministry of National Defense. The Uruguayan Mail,  following the request  of the Uruguayan Antarctc Institute, presented a commemorative stamp, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the first Antarctic naval mission aboard the ship “Pedro Campbell”

TNX Istituto Antarctic Uruguayo

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Peter Campbell (1780-1832) , also known in Spanish as Pedro Campbell was an Irish naval officer who founded the Uruguayan Navy.

WAP is happy to read that next 3YØJ Expedition to Bouvet Island ( Novem,ber 2022) will be set at Kapp (Cape) Fie,  which site will enter  for now, into the WAP Directory, as WAP NOR-New

Here is the statement:
After discussing with the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) and other experts the Expeditionners have come to the conclusion that the only possible place to setup a camp SAFELY is at Cape Fie at the South East part of Bouvet. Cape Fie was first roughly charted in 1898 by a German expedition under Carl Chun, and was re-charted and named by the Norwegian expedition under Captain Harald Horntvedt who explored the area in December 1927.

Cape Fie,  54° 27′ South,  3° 28′ East  is a rock formation at the South East part of the Island, the only safe place to stay for a longer duration overnight. All other locations have a high risk for rock or icefall or large amounts of seals.

Norwegian Research Station Bouvetoya (aka Nyroysa), WAP NOR-Ø2 is not  accessible due to the Bouvet Regulation (that came into force in 2005), which restricts access to only allowed scientific research activity.

As such, and also due to safety issues, the camp will be setup at the rocks above the beach at Cape Fie.​ The area is roughly estimated to 50x240m (150 ft x 800ft).

Kapp Fie , 54° 27′ South,  3° 28′ East, South East side of Bouvetøya (Bouvet Island), will (provisionally) enter into “Section 2, Sub & Peri-Antarctic Territories”  of WAP-WADA Directory as NOR-NEW. Later,  when the operation will start, a full Reference number will be given.

Uruguayan Ionospheric Refuge 62°10′59.4′′ South, 58°54′31.6′′ West,  takes its name by Ionospheric Lake Uruguay in its proximity. Recently an Uruguayan crew put their manual skills on full blast, and in a great teamwork. They refurbished the shelter located about 800 meters  from the Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base (WAP URY-Ø1), which can be used in case of evacuation.

The electrical and sanitary installation was renewed, and reforms were carried out in the structure that make the Refuge a much more comfortable place.

(Picture to the right, shows the Uruguayan Inospheric Refuge before its reconditioning).

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Artigas Base at 62° 11′ South, 58° 51’ West was inaugurated in the penultimate week of December 1984, after hard work of fellow who  overcame endless obstacles to the construction of their first buildings. The Chilean and Soviet collaboration in the transfer of the necessary materials was essential.

At that time, the Chilean National Antarctic Program, gave the refuge “Collins” for the use of the Uruguayan expedition.

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At the light of these evidences, Uruguayan Ionospheric Refuge (Refugio Ionosférico Uruguayo), 62°10′59.4′′South, 58°54′31.6′′West Fildes Peninsula, King George Island ,  will enter  into the WAP-WADA Directory as WAP URY-NEW. As soon as an HF  Ham Radio operation from this location will be on air  a relater reference number will be given.

Now we are happy to have add another gusset to the  WAP Directory.

The event in Vlissingen was the official transfer of the ship from its European build team, marking the final stage of a 1900-day journey from contract signing to handover.

The design and build of the vessel has been a multi-national effort between the Australian Antarctic Division, the vessel operator Serco, Danish concept designers Knud E Hansen, Dutch engineering and detailed design team Damen, and the construction team at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania.

RSV Nuyina will now undergo some final preparations ahead of its eight-week journey to its new home port of Hobart

Thanks and credit to: Flying the flag over Australia’s new icebreaker – Australian Antarctic Program (News 2021) (antarctica.gov.au)

The Australian flag is flying on the nation’s new Icebreaker RSV Nuyina for the first time after a ceremony in the Netherlands.

RSV Nuyina  is one of the most advanced polar vessels in the world, integrating complex scientific technology, logistical capabilities and expeditioner transport into a single bespoke ship.

https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2021/ships-of-science/  

Thanks and credit to antarctica.gov.au

British Antarctic Survey  icebreaker, RRS James Clark Ross has been sold to the Ukrainian National Antarctic Scientific  Centre.

This is the second time that a UK research asset has transferred to Ukrainian research colleagues. The first being the transfer in 1996 of the former Faraday Station  (WAP GBR-Ø6)  that is now known as Vernadsky Base  (WAP UKR-Ø1).

For the past three decades the JCR has fulfilled her role as a world-leading research platform for biological, oceanographic and geophysical research. She contains some of Britain’s most advanced facilities for oceanographic research in both Antarctica and the Arctic.

The ice-capable ship is a new asset for Ukraine and opens up new research opportunities for its National Antarctic Scientific Centre, in particular research into oceans and climate change in the polar regions.

The purchase of the ship comes ahead of the COP26 Conference in November, where representatives from every signatory party for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) come together to discuss climate change action.

Read more at: RRS James Clark Ross sold – British Antarctic Survey (bas.ac.uk)

DS4NMJ Lee, Sanghoon  is still active as DT8A from King Sejong a year-round station , one of the two Korean Bases in Antarctica where he will operate until December 31^st , 2021.

His manager DS5TOS (adress below) is fast QSLing and the cards of DT8A are always  wonderful.

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DS5TOS
Cho Jang-Hui,
Hyundai Town 110-1005
8 Daehak-ro 9-gil Gyeongsan-si
Gyeongsangbuk-do 38654,  South Korea

Lee (DS4NMJ/DT8A)  has a very nice Home page (hosted at: 극지연구소(영문) (kopri.re.kr) ) where readers can see pictures and information of King Sejong Base (WAP-KOR-Ø1), Jang Bogo (WAP KOR-Ø2), plus the  Korean Icebreker Araon and the Arctic Dasan Station at Ny-Alesund, on Spitsbergen Island in the Svalbard Archipelago.

TNX DT8A & DS5TOS

It was not an easy task to retrace the history of Little Jeana Station but thanks to our friend Bill Ashley  KF5BRB  who did provide a QSL ofthis rare one,  WAP is now in condition to issue to LITTLE JEANA STATION (aka Little Jeana Summer Weather Station) a brand new WAP reference as  USA-47.

The KC4USZ card , prove that an activity on Jan. 10^th 1966 from this epic rare one by a QSO made with W8OAR!

US Station Little Jeana.

The Bulletin of the Antarctic US Projects officer (Vol.6 number 2-1964), signed by Rear Admiral James R. Reedy, USN United States Antarctic Projects Officer, show a presentation of activities of the Government of the United States of America pertaining to the logistic support, scientific programs, and current events of interest in Antarctica, published monthly during the austral summer season and distributed to organizations, groups, and individuals interested in United States Antarctic activities.

The data in the over mentioned issues suggest that Little Jeana was active from 3 oct.64 to 23 feb.65,  from  2 oct.65  to 31 oct.65 and again from  1 dec.65 to 22 jan.66.

SUMMER WEATHER STATIONS REESTABLISHED

Prior to the first aircraft landing at the South Pole, on 31 October 1956, a summer weather and emergency-landing station (Beardmore I Station WAP USA-NEW) was established at the foot of Liv Glacier . This station was later moved to the foot of the Glacier, from which it derived its name, and has been moved or rebuilt several times since.

When aircraft began to resupply Byrd Station (WAP USA-19), another summer weather station, Little Rockford (WAP USA-NEW), was set up on the flight path from McMurdo Sound to Byrd Station. It has also been relocated, at 79°14′ South,  147°29′ West, on the Rockefeller Plateau.

Plans for the current season called for remodeling the 2 stations, using van-type buildings similar to those that have proved successful at Eights Station (WAP USA-Ø7).

Advantage was taken of the opportunity to shift the location of Beardmore Station (WAP USA-NEW) to 81°23′ South, 170°15′ East, about 125 miles north of the previous site.

At the same time the station has been renamed “Little Jeana Summer Weather Station” and officially opened on 5 October 1964. The installation consists of 4 portable units, 3 of which are arranged in a “U”. In one are the sleeping and eating quarters for the 3-mandetach-ment; in another are a diesel generator and a workshop; while the third contains another generator and a wash room.

Picture aside (20 February 1964), shows an exterior view of berthing wanigan with messing wanigan in background at Little Rockford Summer Weather Station.

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Wintering-over party shovelling out the James-way but at Beardmore Summer Weather Station for activating the station. (29 September 1961.)

The center of the “U” has been turned into a permawalk, and here the pibal dome is located. The fourth unit has communications equipment and is separated from the others sothat it may, if needed, serve as an emergency shelter.

Little Rockford was reestablished the same day Little Jeana was opened. This installation has consisted of wanigans that were put in position in 1958 by tractors from Little America and later moved to the present site by the same means. It is intended to remodel Little Rockford, along the lines of Little Jeana, later in the season.

Source: Bulletin of the Antarctic US Projects officer (Vol.6 number 2-1964) – Ricerca Google

More details are available at: https://amrc.ssec.wisc.edu/usap/brockton/NCDC-WBAN.TXT

Dates: 1964 October 01,  through 1966 January 31Location: 81° 23’ 00” South,  170° 45’ 00” West on Ross Ice ShelfElevation: 178 feet POBvVIIndex and Errata (1).pdf

Little Jeana was a “summer weather station”.

Bulletin of the U. S. Antarctic Projects Officer – United States. Antarctic Projects Office – Google Books

Bulletin 1, December 1964, reports:

Beardmore station will be relocated at  81° 23’ 00” South,  170° 45’ 00” West  and renamed Little Jeana Station .

Two of such stations, one on the flight path between McMurdo and Byrd  was  named Little Rockford,  while on the flight path from McMurdo to Amundsen-Scott the other one was  Little Jeana.

Bulletin 2, January 1965 says: Little Jeana Station officially opened 5 October 1964.

4 wanigans (Wanigan is by  definition, a shelter used for sleeping, eating, or storage, often mounted in Antarctica on a sledge), typical formation 3 in U-shape, and the 4^th one separated for communications and in case of emergency. These four pieces were the setup for the use of 3 people.  2 for 1800-gallon fuel tanks to be installed (bladder technology used instead).

Bulletin 4 says:  “…. manned by 3 Navy aerographers who broadcast weather conditions hourly”.  Summer support season = 1 October through 1 March.

Bulletin 5, 8 February 1965 says: Communications van returned to McMurdo, digging out of station commenced. On 24 February 1965 Little Jeana closed for the season, personnel and equipment moved to McMurdo, but as reported above, other documents  clearly states the activities from Little Jeana  were: 3 oct.64 to 23 feb.65,  from  2 oct.65  to 31 oct.65 and again from  dec. 1st   1965 to jan. 22nd  1966.

TNX Bill Ashley KF5BRB for his invaluable help

In a document sent to the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty regarding  the “Italian activities in Antarctica before the establishment of the PNRA” (and shown during the Consultative Meeting in Paris last June 2021) there is a paragraph concerning the expedition of Renato Cepparo (pic aside Ham callsign I1SR), with mention of the Memorial building, located in Cervignano del Friuli (Italy),  inspired by the remains of the base dedicated to Giacomo Bove.

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The efforts of prof. PHD Julius Fabbri IV3CCT have been rewarded! 

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Here below, the subject:

Italian activities in Antarctica before the institution of the Italian National Research Program in Antarctica (PNRA)

The largest and only independent Italian Antarctic Expedition was led by Renato Cepparo in 1976-77 to the South Shetland Islands by the Norwegian ship P/V Rig Mate.

It was privately funded and fully self-sufficient, and had the aim of carrying out scientific measurements and leaving a permanent refuge on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Fifteen men, among whom were the deputy leader Flavio Barbiero, a medical doctor, two divers, and four mountaineers who climbed seven peaks on King George Island, were put ashore at King George Island.

The geologists Gian Camillo Cortemiglia and  Remo Terranova were in charge of the scientific part.

Cepparo and his companions landed on King George Island and erected a small building that they named after Giacomo Bove. Today the only remains are the abandoned walls of the station and a wooden table, inscribed by Ing. Admiral Flavio Barbiero.

The area still keeps the name Italia Valley.

In 2018 in Cervignano del Friuli (Italy), the AdiriAntarctica NGO has made an “Italia Valley Antarctic Memorial” of this expedition, building a 1:1 scale replica of the wooden table and the ruins of the Renato Cepparo- Giacomo Bove Station as open-air part of an indoor permanent Museum of Italia Valley, an example of ex situ conservation.

The Italia Valley location.

The Milanese entrepreneur Renato Cepparo left Lisbon on December 22nd 1975 aboard the 900-ton Norwegian polar ship Rig Mate, heading for Antarctica with a shipment of 15 men_ The group included geologists, glaciologists, biologists, mountaineers, experienced divers and nine creme.

Scientists stopped on King George Island where they established a small prefabricated field in the Admiralty Bay named after Giacomo Bove. Others headed for the Wiencke Island and Livingstone Islands to make the planned climbs.

Pic on the Right shows: Remains of Giacomo Bove Station (Cepparo’s Team did operate HF radio using I1SR/P callsign)- Picture taken in 1998.

Pic on the Left shows;

Scaled 1:1 replica of wooden table and station ruins at “Italia Valley, Antarctic Memorial’ in the park of  “A. Malignani” High School of Cervignano del Friuli – Italy

 IV3CCT & II3BOVE (pic aside) is proud to see his efforts recognized by the Institutions  and wish to expree his gratitude to those who in any form of support did allow to put,  to the international attention,  an Antarctic Operation done by Renato Cepparo and his Team  back in 1976-77.

«Dear friends and supporters, after twenty years of research; after 12 battles with the MAE and MAECI (Foreign Min.) and clashes with scientific diplomacy, finally, the Dicastery has published, on behalf of Italy, an article mentioning “our” Memorial!

Many thanks to those who have supported me over the years!

Even if there are errors and omissions in this documents, it’s anyway  important that the Memorial was published by Italy which, in this way, did accredit it !

A real honor for me, for the relatives of Renato Cepparo and Giacomo Bove as well as for students, families, associations, partners and patrons. The Giacomo Bove and Maranzana (AT) Association and the Cultural Adri-Antartica Association, founders of the actually constituted National Consortium. All together,  say  thank you to all the supporters, to friends and families. Thanks to the late H.E. Ambassador Arduino Raimondo Fornara, yp Commander Gen. Amedeo Amedeo G. Cristofaro, to H.E. Ambassador Pier Francesco Zazo, graduated with prof. Silvio Zavatti.»

Thanks indeed de Julius IV3CCT & II3BOVE

Pic above shows Prof Phd Julius Fabbri IV3CCT at the Foreign Ministrer in Rome

See also: http://www.waponline.it/italia-valley-memorial-a-great-job/

There’s  maybe a bit of confusion about the several names of Union Glacier Stations and Camps  in Antarctica. Today we are visiting the Chilean one.

The Unión Glacier, located at 79º 46’ South,  83º 24’ West,  is a large glacier converted since 2014 into the Base Camp.

Chile has long had an interest in this part of Antarctica and the Union Glacier Camp (picture aside) has became a Scientific Polar Station jointly operated by the Chilean National Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Armed Forces who provide logistic support for the Chilean Antarctic programs.

Here is as bit of history:

In  2013 during the  68^th Chilean Antarctic Campaign (ECA 50), the Polar Stations  Arturo Parodi Alister  (WAP CHL-14) –Picture here on the Right shows the entrance of Arturo Parodi Alister Base –  established at Patriot Hills in 1996, and Antonio Huneeus Gana,  were dismantled. Their equipments moved to the corridors of the future station, the Unión Glacier  joint scientific polar station.

In January 2014, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera inaugurated the new Chilean Station at Union Glacier, named  Estación Polar Científica Conjunta Glaciar Unión or Union Glacier Camp (WAP CHL-NEW). See picture above.

Antonio Huneeus Gana Station (WAP CHL-15):

Picture aside is the QSL of Adam K2ARB operating from Antonio Hunneus Gana Station on last 2009).

In November 1997, the first facilities to support scientific research were carried out according to special tents. By Exempt Resolution No. 303 of October 11, 1999, it was officially named Antonio Huneeus Gana Summer Base (aka semi-permanent Antarctic camp) in memory of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the early twentieth century, who at that time had an outstanding performance in the claim of Chilean sovereignty over the so-called Chilean Antarctic Territory. It was located 1 km from the  private Patriot Hills Base Camp (WAP MNB-Ø2) of the enterprise  Adventure Network International  at  80°18’ 07” South, 81°20’ 39” West .

Next time we’ll see few others on the area trying to under stand their evolution.

Japan’s Dome Fuji Station is located in the Antarctic interior and sits at an altitude of 3,810 meters. As on last  Jan. 29 Japan marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of its first base in Antarctica , its commitment to the southern continent remains solid, with a fifth base planned.

Japan will soon begin working toward construction of a new Antarctic base to continue with research into climate change over the past 1 million years.
Members of the 59th expedition team will select a location for the new research station. Plans call for the start of research after completion of the base in five years’ time.
It will be the first for Japan since the Dome Fuji Station (WAP JPN-Ø4) was opened in 1995. The first base was Syowa Station  (WAP JPN-Ø3) in 1957.  A key research objective of the new base will be to drill deep into the Antarctic ice to bring up ice cores and analyze them to search for answers about climate change.
The new base will be about 1,000 kilometers from the Antarctic coast, in an area where ice sheets are between 2,000 and 3,000 meters thick.
One option under consideration is a portable base that can be more easily assembled and moved into place, practically an  “Antarctica Mobile Station Unit”
Read more at: Japan planning 5th scientific research base at Antarctica | News | Japan Bullet and also: JAXA | A Joint Project of JAXA, NIPR, Misawa Homes, and MHIRD Demonstration Test of Antarctica Mobile Station Unit

Endurance22 will launch early next year with aim of locating and surveying wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance in the Weddell Sea.

The location of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance has been one of the great maritime mysteries since the ship became trapped in ice and sank in 1915.
Finding this symbol of the “heroic age” of polar exploration at the bottom of the Weddell Sea was long thought impossible because of the harshness of the Antarctic environment  “the evil conditions”, as Shackleton described them.

Now a major scientific expedition, announced recently, is being planned with a mission to locate, survey and film the wreck.

Read more at:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/05/antarctic-expedition-renew-search-shackleton-ship-endurance

There is a very important person, leading expert of the Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, one of the few people to receive the Order “For Naval Merit” (Russian: Орден «За морские заслуги»), a state decoration of the Russian Federation bestowed for excellence in military or economic maritime endeavours,  Awarded for Excellence in worldwide oceanic activities in favour of Russian military and economic security.

Arnold Bogdanovich Budretsky was Leader in different Antarctic Russian Bases in his youth time and several time in summer on board of M/V Akademic Fedorov. He is over 90 years old!

Russian Govt. has issued a Stamp in his honor. Arnold  was at Indian Maitri Station (WAP IND-Ø2) in 2011 celebrating his 83th birthday  with the Indian’s Overwintering Team.

 The video below, shows when winter is coming: Antarctic research crews prepare Russia’s stations!

Look the video above,  at 2,21 minute,  the man you see in there, is Arnold Bogdanovich Budretsky .

WAP, interpreting the sentiments of the Antarctic followers send Arnold, through this page, our congrats and regognition for his long time devoted to the Poles.

TNX Bhagwati VU3BPZ

Ham radio world is running to involve as many operato ras possible to use a special callsign to celebrate the  6Øth Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature.

So far, the following ones have already got the special call by the telecomm authorities in their respective Countries

Hams from several other Nations are in process to get the special callsigns. The list will became longer and we will update it when new entries will coming out.

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Eugene Shelkanovtsev RZ3EC (pic aside), Vice President of the Russian Robinson Club (About club – Russian Robinson Club (rdxc.org)) has just reported :

During the 6Øth Anniversary of ATS event,  12 different call (R.6ØANT) will be active from Russia starting from 1 October, from different regions. In addition 1 “Joker Station” will be on air  as well. More details will be available a little later».

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On the mean time, Karsten, DL1RUN has informed WAP that, DQ6ØANT is planing an activation day on 2021-june-23^th . This is the day of Antarctic Treaty Signature. From the early morning to the late evening DQ6ØANT will be on air, working on all bands. Favorite Modes are CW and SSB.

All QSO’s are automatically confirmed via E-QSL. QSL cards via the office must be requested via the website https://60ant.de/en/qsl-anfordern-en.

More Information about this activity: www.60ant.de

Different Award Programs will be join the 6ØATS, stay tuned!

Asuka Station, located at  71°31’29’’South, 24°07’50’’East, altitude: 980.3mts was established in March, 1985 in Dronning Maud Land, 670 km southwest of Syowa Station (WAP JPN-Ø3).

At present time Asuka Station is closed and covered under several meters of snow as well as the other Japanese Mizuho Station.

Asuka Station WAP JPN-Ø1 was operational from 1985 until 1991 to support field work in the Sør-Rondane Mountains. The Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) made gravity measurements at many sites around Asuka Station based in the reference site using relative gravimeters more than 25 years ago. The determination of absolute gravity value at the reference site will bring accuracy improvement of the past gravity data.

Asuka Station is listed among the “Most rare Bases”, last check 21 july 2020 by IK1GPG. See: http://www.waponline.it/wap-awards/wap-wada-most-rare-bases/

Some notes about the Japanese presence in Antarctica

In 1955, during the international conference Japan announced its participation in the Artarctic expedition. Participants agreed that in Antarctica, they must create a station that will provide information about the South Pole as a whole. There already were various foreign stations in Antarctica, but Japan had proposed to establish a base in the area, which was 1,600 kilometers away from the other stations. After that, the discussion continued, resulting in the decision to build the station “Showa or Syowa” (WAP JPN-Ø3) on the island of East Ongul.

Ice is thick in this particular region, and therefore extremely difficult to access. In 2012, the latest research vessel “Siras” could not even come close to the shore. Since that time, Japan was the country that lost the war, some thought that it had the unfortunate fate. However, as a result, this place was favorable for study and research.

First, the base is located in a place where the Northern Lights may often be observed. In addition, a large amount of solar origin of meteorites was found near the Yamato Mountains, which are located 300 kilometers to the southwest of the base. The places, where ice that contain air masses over the last million years can be found, can be reached by snowmobile from the base of “Showa”. Later, other  Stations were built  in Antarctica: “Dome Fuji” (WAP JPN-Ø4) establisjed on January 29, 1957, “Mizuho” (WAP JPN-Ø2) established in July, 1970 on  Mizuho Plateau, 270 km south-east of Syowa Station,and  “Asuka” (WAP JPN-Ø1) established in March, 1985.

A fifth station is planned to be build near the “Dome Fuji”

The German Research Icebreaker Polarstern with the Call DPØPOL/MM (Op: Andreas, DL3LRM) will be active again in November/December 2021, still on time to join the 60th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty Signature. DPØPOL/MM will be WAP-317 and the chasers will get a nice oportunity to collect another brand new WAP reference

So far, the following references has already been given to the Stations who have got the special callsign by the authorities in their Countries:
Germany         DR6ØANT                WAP-314

Austria            OE6ØANT                 WAP-315

Germany         DQ6ØANT                WAP-316

Germany         DPØPOL/MM           WAP-317

Other Countries, like Bulgaria, Chile, Italy,  UK, USA and Russia have promised to join the event and are actually planning the request for a special callsign.
As soon as we have more info, we will issue to each one a related WAP-reference.

WAP asks those interested to participate in the event with a SES , to send a mail to:

Volker DL8JDX (info@strecke.de) or to

Gianni I1HYW (varettos@tin.it) in order to pre-register the eventual participation and issuing the WAP Reference number, related to the Special Callsign.