Mese: Luglio 2025

HMS Protector, a Royal Navy ship, was given the award by Cambridge City Council at the city’s military fair last month.
The vessel, an ice patrol ship usually based in Antarctica, has been recognised for its ongoing contributions to researching climate change and works with two research organisations from Cambridge, the council said.
Dinah Pounds, Labour councillor who presented the award, said: “We are very grateful for their work and contributions to tackling climate change.  Working in the Antarctic, the ship has supported scientific research, wildlife mapping, researching changing climate and the continent’s shifting waters”.

This work is carried out by the Scott Polar Research Institute and the British Antarctic Survey,  both based in Cambridge.
Pound added: “We declared a climate change emergency in 2019, and lot of work has gone into making Cambridge more climate resilient. “This is a wonderful way to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community.”

The Freedom of the City parade at Parker’s Piece included people from HMS Protector, armed forces veterans and cadets.

Capt Tom Weaver said he looked “forward to strengthening the relationship” between the city and the ship while they continued their “research into the impacts of climate change and human activity” on the south pole continent.

Thanks and credit to: BBC
Read the full article at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce37xgqn2gdo

It is with immense regret and deep sorrow that we learn the sad news: last July 17th at the age of 102, our good friend and keen Antarctic chaser Jean Pierre Tendron F5XL passed away.

Jean Pierre turned 102 last April 14^th!
We’re saddened by the news of his passing. Our hearts go out to his family and relatives with our sincere heartfelt condolences

Until 2015, at the venerable age of 92, F5XL never missed a single meeting in Mondovì (Italy), and then, he always kept us close in his thoughts when he couldn’t find anyone willing to make the 4-hour journey bringing him to attend the rendezvous with the yearly participants!

Jean Pierre F5XL own WAP-WACA no. 81 on February 12, 2007, with 119 confirmed Antarctic Stations and the Honor Roll WACA nr. 11 as well as WAP-WADA nr. 100 with 77 Antarctic Bases Basi and Honor Roll WADA nr. 14 on the same date

The community of the WW Antarctic chasers among the friend of ARI Mondovì (Italy) who use to set the Antarctic, IFF and DCI Meetings, are sure that the dynamism and enthusiasm that Jean Pierre, F5XL (pic on the right with Max IK1GPG) has passed on, will remain an unforgettable and beautiful memory as well as stimulus to continue our passion for the White Continent.

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Dear Jean Pierre, now you can fly among the castles, amidst the green flora and the pristine white of the Antarctic expanses. Your memory will stay with us forever.

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is about to embark on an ambitious infrastructure renewal program to make Davis Research Station (WAP AUS-Ø3, established in East Antarctica in 1957) a safer, more comfortable and more energy efficient place to live and work.

Last month of May, AAD signed an agreement  with a construction and design consortium to deliver the $250m program of works, which will start with an upgrade of the station’s water and power supplies. “Davis can’t sustain a full population because of water limitations,” the Australian Antarctic Division’s Director of Infrastructure Delivery, Matt Wuersching, said.

“It’s the only Sation where we have to produce water;  all the other stations have their own fresh water source.” Limited access to water means numbers on Station also have to be restricted. “At the moment we’re restricted to between 63 and 73 expeditioners – down from a possible 88 – to manage the water,” Mr Wuersching said.

Read more at: https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/deal-signed-to-kickstart-davis-critical-infrastructure-project/?fbclid=IwY2xjawLP57dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBlcG1wQkNQeXptRlRMYnlMAR43-ghgvtQ_N7zR32UW88B_O8M2w-dZyQ45Dyv0oFCOzQ0_l7T3LDdvxhlIHA_aem_9GQ5dKb4GZh3i1DLytdRqg

TNX and credit: AAD

Establishing Davis station
Phillip Law was the first director of the Australian Antarctic Division. He used Wilkins’ information to work out a location for a new Australian Antarctic Station. In early 1954, Law visited on the way from the recently established Mawson Station (WAP AUS-Ø4). After a few years of planning, in January 1957 Law led a voyage to establish Davis Station.
After 2 days on the Kista Dan searching for a good anchorage and fresh water sources, Law decided to locate the station on a small rocky plateau above a black sandy beach. On 13 January, a small ceremony was held to officially open the new station. It was named after Antarctic legend, John King Davis , captain of the ships Aurora (1911–14) and Discovery (1929–31) — used by Douglas Mawson on his expeditions. After the ceremony, unloading continued and the Kista Dan sailed on 20 January. Later in the season, the ship made a return visit to Davis to drop offsledge dogs. Expeditioners spent the first 2 years learning about the Vestfold Hills and developing essential station services. The first party to winter in the Vestfold Hills was not completely isolated. Auster aircraft flew between Mawson and Davis several times to exchange personnel and supplies. In January 1965, Davis was temporarily closed to concentrate resources on building Casey Station Station (WAP AUS-Ø2). Davis was reopened on 19 February 1969, and has operated continuously since.

Thanks and Credit to: Davis station: a brief history – Australian Antarctic Program

New releases  (1.46 of July 1Øth 2025) of WAP-WADA, WAP-WADA and WAP-LH  has been up loaded on,  and are now available to chasers and Antarctic followers.
WAP WADA & WACA have been updated by the addition of the last New Entry; in particular, on WAP-WACA (Worked Antarctic Callsigns Award) we have now a dedicated section for /AM (Aereonautical Mobile), /Mobile (activities done from onboard of Polar vehicles). Those stations are only listed on WAP-WACA directory as a specific location (Lat/Long) is not defined.

All the operations for which Latitude & Longitude as well as site names  are given, are listed on WAP-WADA Directory.

Also,  an updated release of WAP Antarctic & Peri Antarctic Light Houses has been loaded on.
TNX Pedro Sarli LU1JHF for his invaluable help.

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Check: WAP-WADA  at: https://www.waponline.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wap_wada_2025_directory.pdf
WAP-WACA at: https://www.waponline.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wap_waca_2025_directory.pdf
WAP-LH at: https://www.waponline.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wap_directory_2025-LH.pdf

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TNX Max IK1GPG

On last June 26, July 2, and 3, Hams from ARI-Milan (IQ2MI) and Adri-Antartica did broadcast a message of peace and international scientific cooperation from the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan, embracing the values ​​of the Antarctic Treaty.

The aim of the event,  was to pay tribute to the Italians who supported Italy’s accession to the Antarctic Treaty, especially the Ham radio operator Renato Cèpparo (I1VZP), who operated as I1SR/MM and /P from the “Giacomo Bove Base” on the Antarctic Peninsula in 1975-76.

The idea, originated in FVG Region, home to the Cervignano del Friuli’s National Antarctic Memorial, where Italian Antarctic research originally began, on November 13, 1975, when the M/V C. Colombo set sail from Trieste, carrying the prefabricated stuff used to build the first Italian Research Station: the Giacomo Bove Base, on King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica.

The II2ATCM  (WAP-355) was made possible thanks to the crucial hospitality of the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum and the invaluable support of WAP, ARI-MI, and AGB&M (Giacomo Bove & Maranzana), who sponsored the initiative, under the auspices of the Italian Geographic Society and the Italian Alpine Club. The project coordinator, Prof. Ph.D Julius Fabbri, teacher and radio amateur (IV3CCT), did plan the radio initiative which take place in conjunction with the activities of the 47th ATCM, Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and CEP 27, Committee for Environmental Protection, in agreement with the Museum and with the invaluable logistical support of ARI-Milan

The goal, Fabbri said, was to spread a message of peace on the fiftieth anniversary of the Giacomo Bove Base, the first Italian research outpost on the White Continent. II2ATCM operation served as a fitting reminder of the dismantling of the G. Bove Base by the Argentine Navy, which occurred between October 2 and 4, 1976, eight months after the research station’s inauguration, while the Base was closed and uninhabited for its normal winter break.

Prof. Fabbri (seen on the pics) remarks that, the proposed new historic site for the ruins of Base G- Bove (WAP ITA-Ø2) could be number HSMs 97, following the recent addition of Shackleton’s Endurance. Last but not least, the entire “Bove” initiative also aims to publicize the project to build a small church at the Italian Mario Zucchelli Base  as  W.A.P., is been asking the institutions for over twenty years.
QSL for II2ATCM will be managed by IQ2MI

TNX Prof. PH.D Julius Fabbri IV3CCT, e-mail j.fabbri@virgilio.it

WAP Antarctic and Sub Antarctic Bulletin nr. 3Ø8 of June 30th 2025, is available to download.

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Go to: waponline.it/…ds/2025/07/WAP-Bull_308.pdf and get it 

TNX Max IK1GPG & Betty IK1QFM as well as to the Antarctic Chasers and friends   who did provide the information.

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New release of WAP WADA & WAP WACA Directories will be available within a week or so. For now, enjoy the hot summetime in the Northen emisphere and think how fresh and cold is the Icy Continent now….

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Enjoy Antarctica as much as we do …since 45 years now!

From June 27 to 29, 2025, Friedrichshafen Ham Radio has been once again a meeting point where, amateur radio fans from around the world are converging on.

As Europe’s largest trade fair for amateur radio, HAM RADIO offers the perfect platform for radio enthusiasts from all over the world. Exhibitors and visitors come to Friedrichshafen from over 59 countries to explore the entire spectrum of the radio universe in three exhibition halls and the Foyer West. A unique aspect of HAM RADIO is the combination of trade exhibitors, internationally networked associations and Europe’s largest radio flea market.

In this context our good friend Gabry IK1NEG, keen Antarctic hunter, has got a chance to meet a well known Antarctic veteran, Volker Strecke DL8JDX who did present his new book “Expedition Antarktika”

Volker said: «The sales of my two books in German language went well. The English version will follow after selling more German books». Volker is also trying to find out whether there would be any interest in an Italian or French version. In this case he should find a person able to translate the manuscript! 
Volker, Ex-Callsigns: DM3LTG, Y43UG, Y24LN, Y88POL, DP0GF, DP0GVN was member of several Antarctic Expeditions:
1988-89 Y88POL Georg-Forster-Base
1990-92 Y88POL Georg-Forster-Base
1992-94 DPØGVN Neumayer-Base

Gabry add: I have been Very pleased to have met DL5LX, another top Antarctic Veteran, and several long time DX friends such as Luis CT4NH, E77DX Braco, OE3FTA Flo & Ljuba YU5EA, Baldur DJ6SI and few others; “It has been a great deal of pleasure”, IK1NEG said.   
TNX IK1NEG & DL8JDX