Gennaio 2018 – W.A.P.

Calling Antarctica 2018 – A free Diploma

On: 31 Gennaio 201817 Febbraio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

Paolo Corsetti, IK3GER is an Italian Ham who lives in Mestre which is part of the town of Venice. Paolo has just released the 2018 “Calling Antarctica Award” to be issued at the end of the Antarctic Activity Week.

Paolo wrote: Every year, in the month of February, a special activity called “Antarctic Activity Week” takes place. This year, the 15^th AAW will be held from February 17 to 25.

All WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) stations have a special WAP reference number that will be given during the QSO.

The diploma is issued in 2 classes to OM/SWL:

a) “Basic” for at least 5 QSO/HRD with different calls,
b) “First Class” for 10 or more QSO/HRD with different calls.

Only QSO/HRD made between February 17^th and 25^th, 2018 are valid for this diploma. QSL cards are not needed. Endorsement is available for mode only (CW, SSB, Mixed, various digimodes) The Award is free, and will be sent to the applicants via email as a PDF (JPG on request). WAP reference of the station worked is mandatory in your application

Send your application via email or ask for more information to the Award Manager IK3GER at: corsetti.paolo@libero.it

TNX Paolo, IK3GER (https://www.ik3ger.it)

Wilkins Aerodrome, Antarctica celebrates its 10th Anniversary

On: 29 Gennaio 201829 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

The Australian Antarctic Program is celebrating a decade of flights to the frozen continent’s blue ice runway, improving access for hundreds of scientists and expeditioners.

Wilkins Aerodrome blue ice runway in Antarctica (named after the legendary patron and pioneer of early Antarctic aviator, Sir Hubert Wilkins), has improved access to the continent with 131 flights carrying more than 1600 people landing on the runway since it officially opened on 10 January 2008. Where the ship takes weeks, Wilkins Aerodrome gives the ability to fly expeditioners and equipment between Australia and Antarctica in just over four hours. A Skytraders Airbus 319 and Royal Australian Air Force C-17A are used for the flights, landing on the glacial runway which moves about 12 meters each year.

Wilkins Aerodrome is located at 66°41′27″ South, 111°31′35″ East, in an area of Antarctica known as Wilkes’ Land, approximately 70 km South East of Casey Base (WAP AUS-Ø2) and serves as the Antarctic terminal for the intercontinental air service.

The facility operates between October and March each year.

Source: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2018/a-milestone-in-australian-antarctic-flights

15th Antarctic Activity Week

On: 25 Gennaio 201817 Febbraio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

It’s now time to book the 15^th AAW, getting your special call, your WAP reference number and jump into the unique International Ham event to promote Antarctica … join in and enjoy it!

For over 15 years the annual Antarctic Activity Week is running with the unique purpose of fostering interest in the Antarctic region and its related facts.

The 15^th Antarctic Activity Week (AAW) will begin Saturday February 17^th, and runs till 24:00 UTC Sunday February 25^nd. Someone may ask the reason of why this edition is two days longer than the past years; well, several participants did ask the possibility to have 2 weekends instead of 1 … so this year will be a test, if 2 more days are felt too long, next edition will return back to 7 days activity.

Look for the several special event stations world-wide that will animate the 15^th AAW; each one has its own super special QSL card available. Check for the list of SES station at: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2018/, QSL routes and attractive Awards.
François F8DVD (TM15AAW) wrote:

I’m happy to send WAP an article to announce 15^th AAW activity next February. It’s published in the January issue of REF bulletin.

A l’occasion de la quinzième semaine d’animation radio sur l’Antarctique organisée par les OM italiens du programme WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program ; www.waponline.it), François F8DVD activera depuis son QTH de Mâcon (71) l’indicatif spécial TM15AAW au cours du mois de février 2018 (du 2 au 5, le 7, du 10 au 12, le 14, du 17 au 19, le 21, les 24 et 25) en phonie principalement. Une nouvelle référence WAP a été attribuée à cet indicatif : WAP 285. QSL via F8DVD, bureau ou directe. Pour plus d’infos: http://www.qrz.com/db/TM15AAW

Good receiving and see you all on the air with my TM15AAW call.

Wonderful job François, you’re always doing great, TNX

Argentinean Base Matienzo (WAP ARG-Ø1), Antarctica

On: 24 Gennaio 20183 Febbraio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

Pedro LU1JHF, informs WAP that Juan C. Benavente (LU8DBS) is actually active from Base T.te Benjamin Matienzo 64° 58’ 34” South, 60° 04’ 05” West, as LU1ZAB. Check daily on 7,118 MHz. from 23:00 (UTC) and sometimes from 02: 00 (UTC), in SSB. Juan should be there till February 2018

Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo, or more often Base Matienzo or Estación Matienzo (WAP ARG.Ø1) is an Argentine Antarctic Base and scientific Research Stationlocated in Nunatak Larsen, one of the Foca Nunataks, in Graham Land, Antarctic Peninsula.

It was named after Lieutenant Benjamin Matienzo, an Argentine aviation pioneer.

As of 2014 Matienzo is one of 13 Research Bases in Antarctica operated by Argentina. From 1961 to 1985 it served as a permanent base; since then it is open during the summer season only.

TNX Pedro LU1JHF

A penguin pops in for a quick visit… Antarctic style!

On: 22 Gennaio 201822 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

Australian expeditioners near Casey Research Station (WAP AUS– Ø2) were out on the water when they had an unexpected visitor. Antarctica offers emotions and job.

You, too, could have such an amazing experience – we’re recruiting expeditioners right now! To see the full list of roles available and to apply online visit http://jobs.antarctica.gov.au.

Source: http://www.antarctica.gov.au/

Today is the “Penguin Awareness Day”

On: 20 Gennaio 201820 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

20 January is a day dedicated to the world of penguins: did you know that they are aquatic animals and that their survival depends on the health of the oceans? Protecting their ecosystem is the only way to help them.

Penguin Awareness Day (January 20^thof every year), together with the World Penguin Day (April 25^th) are two great opportunities to learn about and appreciate one of the few natives of Antarctica.

World Penguin Day coincides with the annual northward migration of penguins. Penguins do not fly, rather, they walk, or waddle their way to and from. Penguins are found in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, the Falkland Islands, and the Galapagos Islands.

Greenpeace recalls the reason to celebrate the majesty and silliness of the fine and flippered friends. Everybody can help Greenpeace and the penguins by joining their call for ocean sanctuaries around the world and spreading the word about this kind of initiatives.

33rd Anniversary of Artigas Antarctic Base (WAP URY-Ø1)

On: 19 Gennaio 201819 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

On last December 22, under intense sleet, honors were paid at the national pavilion to all the people who have passed through the Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base (BCAA) in the framework of its 33^rd Anniversary.

The event included members of the Antarctic Programs present on King George Island. Greetings and gifts were received from their bases and the personnel of the Ship Rou Artigas.

Last January 6^th 2018 the navy ship M/V Rou Artigas carrying the fuel and supplies did arrive on schedule to Antarctic Artigas Base (WAP URYØ1) with about 5 tons of frozen food and 226,000 liters of Antarctic gas oil.

M/V Rou04 General Artigas is a ship of the Uruguay National Navy that travels to Antarctica. The ship participates in the “Operation Antarkos XXXIV” with 120 crew members on board, of which 15 are students of the Naval School.

Purpose of this operation is carrying out the Antarctic Campaign between November 15, 2017 and March 30, 2018, making a stopover in the port of Punta Arenas, Republic of Chile. The mission consists of the logistical support of the Artigas Base (picture on the right) through the replenishment of materials for the continuity of the National Antarctic Program, for which 105 tons of general cargo are transported.

RABA, one of the Top Antarctic Awards by Russian Robinson Club

On: 16 Gennaio 201821 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

Russian Antarctic Bases Award (RABA) managed by Russian Robinson Club is given for QSO/SWL with radio stations situated on the territory of the ex USSR and Russian Antarctic Bases. Certificates are issued in three different classes with Plaque – Honour Roll and the last born “Plaque.of Excellence”.

The application must be based on the received QSL cards, photocopies of which must be sent along with the application to the Award Manager (e-mail scan of the QSL cards are accepted). The manager reserves the right to request any specific cards to satisfy any doubt whatsoever.

There are different Classes with different levels of difficulties for these RABA Award Program a real great one for DXers

There is a RABA Data base (http://www.rdxc.org/RRC/AWARDS/RABA/raba_dbe.htm) related to the past operation; this useful tool is set to help applicants to identify the combination of the call with the Russian Base,

Additional information can be requested to RABA Manager: Eugene RZ3EC (rz3ec@yandex.ru)

TNX Eugene RZ3EC

Rules and Awards are shown on the pages of “Worldwide Antarctic Awards” here at WAP website.

Check:http://www.waponline.it/worldwide-antarctic-awards/ and select Russia

China to build its 5th Antarctic Research Station

On: 15 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

China plans to build its fifth Research Station in the Antarctic in a bid to further promote polar research, said an official with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA).

The station will be set on Inexpressible Island in Terra Nova Bay in the Ross Sea. After it is built, the year-round base will be used to investigate the land, sea, atmosphere, and glaciers in the Antarctic. Chinese icebreaker ‘Xuelong is bound for Antarctica with construction materials in tow to build the country’s fifth scientific research station on the continent.

Read more at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-10/28/c_136711670.htm
I/B Xuelong started off at Inexpressible Island, not far from the Italian Mario Zucchelli Station (WAP ITA-Ø1), where the construction of the third all year round open Chinese station, is scheduled for 2022. The name of this planned “New Base” is not yet known.

China has built four Antarctic Research Stations over 30 years of research, with Great Wall (Chángchéng Zhàn ) WAP CHN-Ø1, and Zhongshan WAP CHN-Ø2 serving as the two perennial stations, and Taishan (WAP CHN-NEW) & Kunlun (WAP CHN-NEW) being the two summer stations.

On the mean time, China is building its first homemade polar icebreaker “Xuelong 2” which is expected to be completed in 2019. Scientists say it will provide a solid guarantee for China’s polar expeditions.

More at: https://www.rt.com/news/409270-china-icebreaker-antarctica-station/

Dallmann Laboratory (WAP MNB-Ø4) at Carlini Station

On: 13 Gennaio 201813 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

Despite its frigid solitude, at several sites in the Antarctic nations from around the world have joined forces in the name of research: the Argentinian Carlini Station ( ex- Estacion Cientifica T.te Jubany) WAP ARG-20 on King George Island, one of the South Shetland Islands, is a prime example:Different nations, all under one roof,

In 1994 the Alfred Wegener Institute and Instituto Antárctico Argentino founded the first research institute operated by more than one nation – the Dallmann Laboratory (WAP MNB-Ø4), where researchers from Argentina, the Netherlands and Germany work together under the same roof from October to April (the Antarctic summer). Here, up to 14 researchers at a time pursue biological and geo-scientific field research in the ice-free regions and the shallow waters near the coast – which is only possible in a handful of locations in the Antarctic.

The Laboratory was named in honour of the polar explorer and Bremen native Eduard Dallmann, who headed the first German exploration of the Antarctic, or more precisely, of the Antarctic Peninsula, in 1873.

The video below (without sound) shows the work of scientists at the station:

The only station active so far from Dallman Laboratory (WAP MNB-Ø4) has been Oleg Sakharov R1ANF-UA1PBA who did operate DP1ANF in the month of March, 2004. (QSL for DP1ANF via RK1PWA)

3G9A/MM operation from onboard M/V Betanzos

On: 10 Gennaio 201810 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

M/V Betanzos is actually moored at Punta Arenas; the ship will carry on the Team at King George island before heading Bouvet. The date of departure is Jan 13th. When on the ship, team members will operate as 3G9A/MM QSL via N2OO

Check the ship position at: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:777230/mmsi:725000291/imo:7310923/vessel:BETANZOS#IrjZAqtjXemvHHQW.99

If you use other tracking sites (such as https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/BETANZOS-IMO-7310923-MMSI-725000291), the ship data to input for search are:
MMSI: 725000291

Call Sign: CBTZ

Flag: Chile [CL]

IMO: 7310923

The Bouvet Island DXpedition – 3YØZ

Here is a summarized part of “Press release nr.10”:
DAP, the Chilean company that owns and operates the M/V Betanzos and the helicopters with a cost of almost 1/2 million U.S. dollars.

The Team is on schedule for a January 13, 2018 departure to Bouvet Island, the World’s most isolated island and the number two most wanted DX entity. All team members will meet in Punta Arenas, Chile no later than January 10, 2018 to attend a one and one-half day marine safety course, purchase last minute supplies and then fly across the Drake Passage to King George Island in the South Shetlands. There, we will board the newly refurbished Chilean vessel M/V Betanzos, and begin our 9 to 11-day voyage to Bouvet. The Captain reports he has previously been to Bouvet.

Complete information on band plans and frequencies, propagation predictions and QSL procedures are available on the DXpedition website: www.bouvetdx.org. You will find strategically placed “donate” buttons if you want to help with our substantial costs. I hope you share in the excitement of this great undertaking. We anxious to get underway!

TNX Bob-K4UEE, Ralph-KØIR,Erling-LA6VM

M/V Betanzos will be a new entry in the WAP Awards

Argentinean Summer Antarctic Campaign 2017/2018

On: 8 Gennaio 20188 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

The Argentinean Antarctic Summer Campaign 2017/2018, formally started on last December 18, 2017, when the ship “Estrecho de San Carlos” and the naval transport “Canal de Beagle” sailed from the port of Buenos Aires.

After 10 years, the icebreaker ARA Admiral Irizar returns to Antarctica. It has been add to this Campaign that will be extended until the beginning of April 2018 with a schedule in which ships, aircraft and helicopters, will coordinate the movements in accordance with the unstable Antarctic climate and the glaciological conditions that fix the “windows of opportunity” to access some of the thirteen Argentine bases on the white continent (six permanent and seven transitory). The mission is to carry out the replenishment of the bases, the withdrawal of waste and replace the staff personnel.

Read more at: http://www.marambio.aq/iniciocav1718.html

TNX Marambio Foundation

My march to the Emperor Penguins

On: 5 Gennaio 20185 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

Kerry Peters was an elementary school teacher when he was offered retirement . He didn’t really had any of those “What will I do with myself now?” anxieties. He took retirement when it was offered, because he was already looking forward to what came next: exploring the polar regions.
Read this interesting story published on last sept.2017, an Expedition tale from the rarely seen Snow Hill colony; it tells about Antarctica, penguins and much more, told by a man who really has found what he was looking for!

Read the full story at: http://explore.quarkexpeditions.com/blog/my-march-to-the-emperor-penguins-an-expedition-tale-from-the-rarely-seen-snow-hill-colony?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=my-march-emperor-penguins&utm_campaign=ANT17-18

TNX Kerry Peters

VI7ØHI (WAP-288) 70 years ago, the 1st ANARE Expedition to Heard Island

On: 3 Gennaio 20184 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

Lee Moyle VK3GK is operating VI7ØHI, a Special Callsign issued to Commemorate the first ANARE Expedition to Heard Island in December 1947.

VI7ØHI will be active on all HF bands 160m-10m, SSB, CW, RTTY and possibly digital modes until Feburary 28th 2018 and will join the 15^th Antarctic Activity Week. (Please note that this activity is from mainland Australia OC-001 and NOT from Heard Island).

A special commemorative QSL card will be available after completion of the activation through ; Charles Wilmott MØOXO who is the official QSL manager. https://www.m0oxo.com/oqrs/logsearch.php OQRS will be available and also LOTW.

Charles Wilmott
60 Church Hill, Royston, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 4NG, England, United Kingdom

To VI7ØHI a brand New WAP Reference issued is WAP-288 and it can be used for WAP Awards

History:
The party from the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) arrived at Heard Island in December 1947. The 14 men spent 15 months at Atlas Cove, and constructed an entire small city, complete with a small power station, food store, mess, workshops, shower, toilet, electrical and plumbing stores, medical annex, biology lab, science lab, hen coop, dog run, and a large tractor. These men carried out meteorological, geophysical, upper atmosphere, and biological research, a program that continued for 7 years until the base was abandoned. Since 1969, ANARE has visited Heard Island every few years, mostly to check up on the ruins of the original encampment.

The first amateur radio contact was made in 1947 by Arthur Campbell-Drury who signed VK3ACD/Heard. During the following 3 years, a total of only 36 contacts was made (See QSL aside)

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine/2001-2005/issue-7-spring-2004/feature/heard-island-a-history-of-exploration

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-15/heard-island-sparked-australias-post-war-antarctic-research/9258906

http://anareclub.org/web/index.php

http://wia.org.au/

The XXXI Spanish Antarctic Campaign

On: 2 Gennaio 20182 Gennaio 2018 By: Gianni Varetto

230 people will participate to the XXXI Spanish Antarctic Campaign, carry out 16 research projects, two of them aboard the Hespérides Oceanographic Research Ship, which will also support five international projects of Germany , Belgium, Colombia and Portugal. In addition, in this campaign will also be released a warehouse module at the Gabriel de Castilla Antarctic Base, (WAP ESP-Ø2) managed by the Spanish Army.

The XXXI Antarctic Campaign did start last November 24, when the Oceanographic Research Ship Hespérides departed from the port of Cartagena (Murcia). The opening of the bases will take place today, January 2, 2018 and the closing will be on March 19, 2018.

Spain in Antarctica:

The “daring” origins of the Spanish Antarctic Base (BAE) Juan Carlos I° began in 1986 as a tent in which for a few days the scientists Antoni Ballester, Josefina Castellví, Joan Rovira and Agustí Julià coexisted.

Two years later, in 1988 the same year that Spain became a consultative member of the Antarctic Treaty, the Spanish Antarctic Base (BAE) Juan Carlos I° was inaugurated. and recently rewnewed.

Today, the recently rewnewed Spanish Antarctic base Juan Carlos I°(WAP ESP_Ø1), located on Livington island will house the XXXI Spanish Antarctic Campaign 2017-2018.

The new buildings, set in the shape of a clover or tripod, has 2,000 square meters of living space, 600 meters of laboratories, 1,500 square meters of storage, and capacity for 52 people per module.

The remodeling works of the new base, which did involve an important environmental and economic effort, have cost 16 million euros, 13 million financed by the Ministry of Economy and another 3 by the CSIC.

The new BAE is already operational and the members of this year’s Antarctic campaign may release the facilities approximately one month after their arrival, although the base will be formally inaugurated next year.