antarctic survey work in the spotlight - United Kingdom Hydrographic ...

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this year on behalf of the International Hydrographic Organisation and the Hydrographic Committee on Antarctica. He said: “Antarctica is poorly charted to modern nautical standards yet it is becoming an increasingly popular place with tourist ships. Currently 45,000 people visit every year and the survey work being carried out by ENDURANCE, amongst others from other nations, is playing a crucial role in reducing risks and to improving the safe conduct of navigation in this area. It also provides data in support of Antarctic science. The key issue is getting this data into charts as quickly as we can – a task likely to take many years” During the visit Mike and Ian also joined in an onboard seminar of stakeholders into the future replacement of ENDURANCE and discussed the extension of a MOU with BAS for better data exchange. Both Mike and Ian have subsequently followed up on some issues and ideas that came to light in their visit. For further information contact: Tamsin Hodge, UKHO Media Manager 01823 337900 ext 3706 tamsin.hodge@ukho.gov.uk Notes for Editors ENDS 1. The UKHO, which is part of the Ministry of Defence, has been charting the world’s oceans for more than 200 years with the primary aim of providing navigational services for the Royal Navy and merchant mariners to save and protect lives at sea. 2. Nearly 70 per cent of world shipping use these charts in satisfaction of UN (SOLAS) mandatory carriage requirements. 3. The UKHO also plays a central role, in support of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in discharging the UK’s ‘Safety of Life at Sea’ Treaty obligations for waters of UK national responsibility. 4. The UKHO provides a rapidly expanding range of digital products and services including the Admiralty Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) and Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) services every week. 5. HMS Endurance displaces 2,500 tonnes, and is 91m long with a beam of 17.9m. The red hull colour is for easy recognition in the ice, most especially from the air. Powered by twin diesel engines she has a top speed of 15 knots and a long range capability. The ice breaker bow enables the ship to cut through 0.9m thick ice at 3 knots. Her bridge is fitted with some of the most sophisticated navigation and manoeuvering aids in the world. More…
6. A Class 1 Icebreaker she was originally built in Norway in 1990 as MV Polar Circle. The RN chartered her in 1991 before she commissioned as HMS Polar Circle on 21 November 1991. She was subsequently renamed HMS Endurance. Her base port is Portsmouth, which is also the ship's affiliated town. 7. The Ship's motto is "Fortitudine Vincimus" - 'By Endurance We Conquer'. The motto originates from that of the great Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton who made history in his ship, 'Endurance' in his expedition south in 1914-15.
Page 1 and 2: 24 April 2008 ANTARCTIC SURVEY WORK
Page 3: Picture caption: Admiral Sir Mark S

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