Programme Director
SANAE Voyage Team
Guests
Colleagues
Ladies and Gentlemen
We are all gathered here today to bid bon voyage to South SA Agulhas and all onboard as they embark on this final voyage to the Antarctica. This milestone also gives us an opportunity to pay homage to this polar vessel for the role it has played as a carrier and science platform during South Africa’s long involvement in research in the Southern Ocean.
South Africa is one of the original 12 signatories of the Antarctic Treaty which was signed in December 1959. Since then it played a significant role in Antarctic matters and the administration of the continent. It is still the only African country that is a Treaty member.
South Africa has thus been involved in research on the Antarctic continent (a pre-requisite for Treaty membership), oceanographic research in the Southern Ocean and the waters around Antarctica, research on the Prince Edward Islands and weather observations on the three remote stations, as well as, the Polar ships for more than 50 years.
For 33 of the 50 plus years of South Africa’s involvement in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, the SA Agulhas, has been the crucial platform that provided the back bone of logistical support for research. She carried the annual supplies (food, fuel, spares, etc.) for the overwintering teams, as well as maintenance and support staff and researchers to the 3 remote stations.
The SA Agulhas served the country very well for more than three decades. Apart from the annual supply/relief voyages to the 3 remote stations, she has undertaken numerous research cruises and also participated in a number of international rescue events. The most prominent of these was the winter (2002) rescue of the MV Magdalena Oldendoff beset in Antarctica ice. South Africa received accolades from a number of Heads of State for her (and the SA Agulhas’s) role in the event. It also resulted in the SA Agulhas becoming a household name in the international arena.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sadly, the SA Agulhas has reached the end of her industrious lifespan as an ice-breaker. Furthermore, the Classification Society (Lloyds of London in this case) is reluctant to clear polar ships older than 30 years for ice-covered water operations. A successor/replacement had to be found since without a ship, with at least the current ship’s capabilities, it would be impossible to continue with South Africa’s involvement, activities and commitment in the Southern Ocean and on the sub-Antarctic Islands and the Antarctic continent.
The arrival of the new SA Agulhas II in late March 2012, heralds a new and exciting period for researchers. The Southern Ocean ‘on the doorstep’ of South Africa so to speak, acts for a large part as a carbon zinc – drawing excess atmospheric carbon into the ocean. It is therefore key in understanding the processes of climate change.
This ship is particularly well equipped to do climate change research. She does not only provide an excellent scientific platform for South African researchers, but will draw international experts to participate in research projects of national interest. A number of enquiries and requests have already been received from prominent scientists from a number of countries.
This bodes very well for another objective/motivation for this vessel, that is, to rebuild deep sea oceanographic and marine geo-science, in particular, capacity in South Africa.
We wish you a safe passage to the Antarctica and back - bon voyage!
Remarks by Dr Monde Mayekiso, Department Of Environmental Affairs Deputy Director-General: Oceans and Coasts, on the occasion of the Departure of the SA Agulhas on its final voyage to Antarctica, 8 December 2011, Cape Town
