SA Agulhas to embark on Pre-COP17 voyage

The SA Agulhas, South Africa’s polar research and supply vessel will embark on a Pre-COP17 voyage, departing from Cape Town to Durban on Saturday,  12 November and will arrive back in Cape Town on 21 November 2011.

South Africa’s hosting of and participation in the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban later this year, provides a unique opportunity to highlight the important role that Oceans play in climate. The voyage will therefore showcase three decades of South Africa’s achievements in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic region where important research has been conducted and contributes to the understanding of the influence of oceans on our climate.

The voyage comprises of four legs; Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town to Durban;  Port Elizabeth to Durban and Durban to Cape Town.

A fully fledged programme has been developed for the voyage and includes talks and presentations on amongst others, the Southern Ocean Carbon-Climate Observatory programme; the effects of climate change on the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems, Oceans and Climate Change as well as Oceanic Climate Change trends for the Indian Ocean and possible implications for South Africa.

Government officials, scientists, academics, students and climate change experts will form part of the voyage. Other key role players in the voyage include the Department of Science and Technology, South African Weather Service, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Universities.

Media is  invited to join the entire voyage or parts of it. However space is limited, so please advise us immediately.

Media is also invited to the departure event as below:

Departure Date: Saturday, 12 November 2011
Time: 12h00 (The vessel will depart at 14h00)
Venue: East Pier Shed, V&A Waterfront (past Table Bay Hotel) next to the Heli-Pad)

 

Interested journalists should send their RSVP by 12h00 on Thursday, 9 November 2011.

 

RSVP:
Ernest Mulibana
Tel: 012 359 1770
E-mail: EMulibana@environment.gov.za

 

 

Media enquiries:
Roopa Singh
Cell: 082 225 3076

 

Event Category

Share this page

Similar categories to explore