Mese: Settembre 2025

We must be grateful for this operation, to the personnel of the Polar Ship Laura Bassi, docked at the port of Trieste, preparing for next Antarctic Campaign.

Prof. PhD Julius Fabbri IV3CCT, has really spent a lot of time to get necessary permission to operate from onboard with the invaluable help of OGS (https://www.ogs.it/it) . With the Hams from ARI-Grado, particularly to the President Andrea Regolin IV3VFR and colleagues of Grado Radio Club, it has been reached a great goal!

The icebreaker belongs to the Experimental Geophysical Observatory (OGS), headquartered in Trieste, northeastern Italy and this activity, aimed to put “On Air” the Italian Icebreaker for the 1^st time, has been a fantastic success!

The activation is being held to mark the following anniversaries:

– 40th Anniversary of the National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA);

– 50th Anniversary of the inauguration of the Giacomo Bove Station (WAP ITA-Ø2). The motor vessel C. Colombo set sail from Trieste on 13 November 1975 bound for Montevideo with 30 tons of prefabricated material to build the G. Bove, Station. The journey continued aboard the Norwegian ship Rig Mate, headed towards the Antarctic Peninsula

– 20th Anniversary of the Italian-French Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3);

– 64th Anniversary of the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty.

Prof. Julius Fabbri said: «On Friday, September 26, 2025, with the ARI-Grado and the representative of the Adri-Antartica Association, we did activate the R/V Icebreaker Laura Bassi, thanks to the kind welcome of the OGS-Trieste. I sincerely thank everybody who did help us; OGS, ARI-Grado, and WAP for their valuable collaboration. We did operate SSB & CW on 17-20 & 40 mts SSB, CW and FT4.»

Special thanks to:
Prof. Nicola Casagli (President of OGS);
Dr. Franco Coren (Director of the Naval Infrastructure Management Center of the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics)
Dr. Roberto Romeo (Project Manager)
Captain Vincenzo Caso (Captain of R/V Laura Bassi).

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Briefly, Prof. Julius Fabbri add: «I am very grateful to Gianni Varetto I1HYW@WAP(Worldwide Antarctic Program), to ARI-GRADO IQ3AZ, to Andrea IV3VFR, Giacomo IV3CLI; Claudio IV3DXW and Alessandro IV3CTT».
IV3CCT/MM made 500 QSOs; 45 Countries worked! (See the table here aside)
QSL will be available by e-QSL  and Direct. (More info on QSL route will be given later)

Check more about OGS at: https://www.ogs.it/it 

The Norwegian Troll Research Station (WAP NOR-11), located in Jutulsessen, Antarctica, serves as a critical base for biological, glaciological and geological research, and it is operating in one of the most challenging environments on the planet.

Troll Sation, 72°00′42″South, 2°32′06″East, was originally built in 1989-1990, but its facilities were only suitable for summer use. In 2005, the station underwent an upgrade, including a construction of a 3,000-meter-long airstrip on the glacier. The upgrade was essential for maintaining a continuous, year-round presence in the region and for supporting research and logistics, including providing a transport route for other stations in Dronning Maud Land.

The station is approximately 235 km from the coast, a distance taking 3-5 days to cover with cargo. Troll houses six personnel during the harsh winter months, with up to 80 people arriving during the summer season.

After 35 years of service in one of the world’s harshest environments, the existing Troll Research Station is nearing the end of its lifespan. Looks like the old Troll station, being 32 years old, will be demolished. It has low capacity for research activities, unreliable buildings and technical systems, and needs to transition to renewable energy sources. The government has approved a concept for upgrading the existing Station with a new building to accommodate 65 personnel.

Statsbygg, the Norwegian government’s construction agency, has initiated the process to find a contractor to build a new Research Station at Troll in Antarctica. This will be one of Norway’s most unique construction projects over the next decade.

This is an important step towards a functional, upgraded research station that meets today’s requirements for Polar research in one of the world’s most exposed areas,” says John Guldahl, project manager at the Norwegian Polar Institute.  Funding has so far been allocated for a design phase with the contractor, consultants and architect. Detailed design and construction are subject to parliamentary approval and budget allocation for project execution.

Thanks and Credit to: https://www.sciencenorway.no/antarctica-ntb-english-science-policy/norway-will-spend-over-300-million-usd-to-build-a-research-station-in-antarctica/2147064

Read more at: https://npolar.no/en/troll/

We got a chat with David, F4FKT/FT4YM, who is getting ready to his new Antarctic adventure. David was on the way home, coming back from a fire station call. Even if it was late, we had a chance to know that his medical visits was perfectly in order and he is ready to depart October 20^th for his long journey to Antarctica.
(On the pic aside Danilo IZ1KHY & David FT4YM)

From November 2025 to February 2026, David will be on air again from Dumont d’Urville  Station (WAP FRA-Ø1), Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3), Little Dome C (WAP MNB-15).

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David said: «Thanks again for WAP site, an infallible source of information! I’m waiting for confirmation, but maybe a couple of new one WAP references could be on air…to be continued»

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On the mean time David say appreciation to Mehdi F5PFP for the appeal launched among the OMs for a donation that will allow the construction of a lightweight amplifier to reduce the weight of the luggage to be carried in Antarctica. Looks like the works on this new RF amplifier, seems to proceeding well.

David sent also a link posted on Youtube there is an interesting interview (in French)made by  Dimitri F4FLH where he welcomed F4FKT, about his career, his mobile and cell phone traffic struggles a radio amateur stationed at Dumont d’Urville, Cabane Marret, Concordia Station in Antarctica and  how he keeps his passion for radio alive, even at the ends of the earth.

TNX David F4FKT/FT4YM

 Note: If other Hams wish to send some help to contribute to the realization of the new lightweight amplifier for David’s 2025-2026 Antarctic season activities, can contact Mehdi F5PFP and arrange with him the donation sending procedure.

Perseus Airstrip is a key logistics hub in East Antarctica, specifically within Dronning Maud Land (DML), serving as the main gateway for the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica (PEA) research station (WAP BEL-Ø2). Located about 60 km north of PEA and 450 km east of Novo Runway (WAP MNB-Ø6), it allows for direct, intercontinental flights from Cape Town, South Africa, significantly reducing travel time and costs for scientists and researchers.

Situated at 71°25’42” South and 23°33’57” East, on a blue ice field near Romnoes, a nunatak, Perseus Airstrip is part of the DROMLAN network, responsible for logistics in Dronning Maud Land region of East Antarctica. Under ALCI (Antarctic Logistics Center International), the logistics service provider in DROMLAN based in South Africa, the new airstrip is partly maintained by the BELARE (Belgian Antarctic Research Expedition) team members and will allow savings of both time and money for scientists doing research at the Princess Elisabeth Station and its vicinity.

The first intercontinental flight from Cape Town landed at Perseus Airstrip on November 22, 2019. Scientists from various research projects, including CHASE, MASS2ANT, and LOSUMEA, were among the first to utilize the new airstrip which is also crucial for accessing the upcoming Andromeda Station.

The 3 km-long Perseus Airstrip sits atop a blue ice field close to rounded Romnoes nunatak. The climate at this location is quite dry, with very little snow accumulation. This is due in part to the fact that the airstrip sits on the leeward side of Romnoes, allowing it to be partially protected from katabatic winds from Antarctica’s interior, and snow accumulation. This makes bulldozing maintenance to smooth out the airstrip easier than it would be at other locations.

Sitting on solid blue ice in a cold environment that never goes above freezing also means that the airstrip won’t be at risk of melting during the austral summer, which can sometimes happen at stations at the coast when temperatures get warmer.

Perseus Airstrip will be add in next release of the WAP-WADA Directory as MNB-NEW

See also: http://www.antarcticstation.org/multimedia/picture_gallery/landing_of_first_intercontinental_flight_at_perseus_airstrip