New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands consist of five island groups: Snares, Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island,  in the Southern Ocean south-east of New Zealand. The islands, lying between the Antarctic and Subtropical Convergences and the seas, have a high level of productivity, biodiversity, wildlife population densities and endemism among birds, plants and invertebrates.

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According to the recent “new wording”  of the islands involved,  which are now known as “New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands”  versus the previous diction of  “New Zealand Outlying islands” WAP have already add  on Section 2 of the WAP-WADA Directory , few of them with their related references. As soon as new evidences of other Ham radio activities from different sites on the islands, they will be insert on WAP Directories. 

Here below one of those:  

Snares Castaway Depot & Research Hut  WAP NZL-10
Snares Islands-New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands
48° 01’South, 166° 32’East

The Castaway Depot built by the New Zealand government in the 1880s, is now maintained as an historic site by the Department of Conservation. (picture on the Right, show the old Depot) 

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The dining tent used in 1947 was sited where the current research hut is located. The corrugated iron structure  and the wood one is the same building.

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A video of the Snares is available here: https://youtu.be/_sPK92Oddig  

To all our friends all over the world, Hams, supporters and followers, to all the Antarctic and Artic lovers,  WAP Staff wish a PEACEFUL Christmas in the spirit of a real and sincere friendship.

Enjoy Antarctica as much as we do

 

Cape Hallett 72°19’ South, 170°16’ East,  was the location of a joint scientific base, Hallett Station, between the United States and New Zealand during the International Geophysical Year of 1957, and was manned permanently until 1964, when there was a major fire.

Hallett Station  was then used as a summer only base until 1973. The site is currently being remediated by removing hazardous materials: fuel, and oil stored in several large tanks. This is an ongoing project which will take several years to complete.

At the time, thirty Navy men and scientists were stationed at a “rookery” near Hallett Station from October through February to study the over 100,000 Adelie penguins which populate the area. These birds, 18 inches tall and weighing 14 pounds, return annually to breed and raise their young. An area of 74 ha, is protected under the Antarctic Treaty System as Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) No.106 because it contains habitats with a rich and diverse range of plant communities that are the most extensive and representative examples known at the northern end of the latitudinal gradient of Victoria Land and the Ross Sea.

The only activity known from Hallett Station (WAP MNB-Ø8) was ZL5AC Ken Bargh (QSL aside)  who did operate from there in 1958 but also, on WAP-WADA Directory there is another ZL5AC but from Scott Station (WAP NZL-Ø1).

Now thanks to a couple of Antarctic veteran, Volker Strecke DL8JDX and Alan Cresswell ZL2BX,  WAP is proud to retrace a bit of that time, about this ZL5AC’s twins.
In a message sent to Volker DL8JDX, last Febr.3^rd,   Alan Cresswell ZL2BX (alancresswell@xtra.co.nz) wrote: -With regard to ZL5AC, I was in the Antarctic in 1974.  Firstly at  the New Zealand research station at Scott Base,  and then at the American Byrd Station on the Polar Plateau. My operating was restricted to visits to Scott Base as I was unable to operate from Byrd Station so,  I only managed a few hundred contacts. Most of my operating outside NZ was done  in my time in the Pacific Islands (ZK1AM, ZK1DR) where I had over 100.000 contacts. 73, Alan ZL2BX-

Alan  mentioned about Byrd Station.
It will be interesting to have more details  in particular about  Byrd Coast Camp  WAP USA-NEW  which is still unnumbered on WAP WADA Directory  but this  will another item to search for !
Here below a list of the actually referenced Byrds  sites:
1) Byrd VLF Substation (aka Longwire), WAP USA-Ø3
2) Byrd Station (aka Old Byrd Station), WAP USA-19
3) Byrd Surface Camp,  WAP-USA-20
5) Byrd Radio Noise Outpost (aka Conjugate Point Station), WAP USA-35
6) Byrd Aurora Substation.  WAP USA-41
7) Temporary Byrd Surface Camp,  WAP USA-45
8) Byrd Coast Camp,  WAP USA-NEW

Perhaps some Old Timers/Antarctic Veteran might recall some rare memories of that frame of the Antarctic era and help WAP to know a bit more.

 

Our US friends from Kansas are just welcomed on board of next Antarctic Activity Week

Jim, KBØMZFwrote:
Please show the KØANT (K0ANT – Callsign Lookup by QRZ Ham Radio) club (WAP-198) registered for the 20^th Edition of the Antarctic Activity Week – 19-26 February 2023.
Hoping all is well with you.  We always enjoy the great pictures you post on the web.  We miss seeing you on our Saturday video club meetings, but we have not been using Zoom since the COVID pandemic has been less of a concern. Looking forward to talking (by text, by RF, by pictures, and any other means possible) again soon. Sending copies to our club President, Don Whitney, and our good friend, Edmondo VA3ITA, in Toronto.  Hope it’s a good year for all!
Jim Vano, KBØMZF
Trustee and Secretary for KØANT

WAP did also appreciate the comment from Don, KCØWTT Club President:
«Hopefully we’ll have better AAW participation from our Club members this coming February. The past few years, between weather or the Kansas City Zoo policies, or COVID interfering with our remote Club operation has been disappointing. But it is a fabulous and educational event, and our Members like not only the event taking place, but the great information from the website about all the Antarctic news. We are looking forward to this event in 2023».
Sincerely, 
Don Whitney  KCØWTT

TNX to Jim KBØMZF, to Don KCØWTT and to all the great friend on KØANT Club

WAP Antarctic bulletin nr. 204 is available online.
Check: https://www.waponline.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/bull294.pdf

This one, is last bulletin of the year 2022 with the main information of Ham Radio activity from the Icy Continent  and the Peri Antarctic areas, as listed on WAP-WADA Antarctic Directory which contains nearly 1,000 Bases, Huts, Refuges,  Stations and Field Camps , all classified, sorted and numbered, according  to the Country of origin.

Bulletin is edited by Max IK1GPG, Betty IK1QFM & Gianni I1HYW

 

The 20th edition of the WW Antarctic Activity Week will be on air from  19th through 26th February 2023.

Purpose of the A.A.W. is to improve the Worldwide interest around Antarctic Continent and its related  matters

Today we are welcoming Kamel Ghalem 7X2GK who have just signed in,  with his special call 7T22ANT, WAP-345

Kamel, HAM since 2012 lives in Berrouaghia ( JM16kd ) in central part of Algeria , at 100 Km to the South  of Algiers City capital.

Kamel (picture on theright) wrote: We did participate last year to the 19th AAW with the same call, and it was a good and beneficial experience for all of us, and we hope that this year will be better .
Best greetings, 73 de 7X2GK     
Antarctic followers, Polar enthusiasts and Antarctica’s station hunters are invited to join the event, the unique one Worldwide, specifically dedicated to the Ham’s Activity in/with Antarctica.  

2023 marks the 20th anniversary since the launch of the first edition of the AAW in February 2004. Today WAP is proud to see that, since then,  it has continued regularly every year.

Join us and enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

Invitation to join is addressed to all Radio Amateurs (OMs & SWLs) around the world, to the Clubs and Organizations who would like to share with us this initiative.

After many years, KC4AAC from Palmer Station (WAP USA-23) is back on the air.

Voker DL8JDX reports: – Last night I saw on http://www.pskreporter.info  that KC4AAC was active in JS8 and WSPR.

The new operator for the season 2022-2023 is Cody Lewis,  see http://www.qrz.com/db/kc4aac

According to an info from his QSL Manager K7MT, Cody operates also in FT8. Because there is a Morse Key on the picture shown on QRZ.com he might be operating in CW as well.

It will be fine if some Hams in the US can set skeds with Cody.  For EU, windows on 20 mts opens from 17,00 through 21,00 UTC.
More info about Palmer Station (WAP USA-23):

https://www.nsf.gov/geo/opp/support/palmerst.jsp

http://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/palwebcam.cfm

https://www.palmerstation.com

TNX Volker, DL8JDX

Since July 1991, Guatemala is part of the signatory countries of the Antarctic Treaty with non-consultative status. IPOGUA (Instittuo Polar Guatemalteco) was established in 2013 as a Polar Exploration Institute that develops science, technology and expeditions to Antarctica to advance the understanding of planet earth, as well as to enforce the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty to which we are a part. 

In 2021, it inaugurated its facilities, which include research laboratories and an educational entertainment center called “POLARIUM”. IPOGUA is located in the department of Huehuetenango (Guatemala) and has several professionals who collaborate with said institution and with the contribution of three Guatemalan Universities that develop polar science. The main mission of IPOGUA is to lead and maintain the presence of Guatemala in Antarctica , through civil-military participation in scientific and technological research activities that promote the advancement of Guatemalan polar science.

This year , IPOGUA in compliance with its Antarctic Program 2022 managed to successfully coordinate its  first scientific expedition to Antarctica  through collaboration with the Observatory for Security, Defense and Cooperation of Barcelona, Spain.

One of the most ambitious goals of IPOGUA is to establish its own Polar Research Station in Antarctica, which allows international civil-military cooperation, as well as the reduction of exploration costs in a multi-use infrastructure, safe for users and that allows projects of innovative research beneficial to humanity to be developed.

First Guatemalan Antarctic Scientific Expedition 2022 
The expedition represented by a Guatemalan,  consist of a stay in Antarctica for around 20 days of the southern Antarctic summer distributed between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. While the IPOGUA representative researcher carries out different scientific or technological projects, Ing. Amb. Ricardo Molina will be accompanied by the staff of Premios Antárticos who are responsible for logistical coordination. 

IPOGUA especially encourages universities to be part of this first Antarctic scientific expedition, creating collaboration ties in favor of national science and technology. It is an opportunity to expand knowledge, generate new science, increase prestige, and make a homeland within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty. 
IPOGUA believes in Guatemala’s scientific and technological talent.

TNX Ing. Amb. Ricardo Molina Coronel (R) & Bruno Alonso Director IPOGUA

Read more at: www.ipogua.com  

Whichaway camp (built in 2010) is unique and the perfect base from which to start your adventure. Having won the World Travel Awards five times, the camp is also designed with a minimal environmental footprint in mind.
Whichaway Camp at  70° 45′ 49″ South, 11° 36′ 59″ East,  is in the Schirmacher Oasis at the lake Podprudnoye.

Dr. Volker Strecke DL8JDX  (Antarctic veteran) sent WAP a couple of interesting pictures showing that Whichaway Camp is  exactly located at the same position where the Georg Forster Hut  at 70°46′ South,   11°37′ East  was until 1993.
This aside, is how this place looked in 1989:

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This at the rigth,  is how it looked in 1991:

Picture on the left, shows the same site how it looks today.
Now it is called Whichaway Camp (WAP MNB-11):

In addition, Volker says that,  as far as he knows ,  at  Lake Prilednikovoye Hut and Lake Podprudnoye Hut (DDR-NEW listed on WAP-WADA  Directory ) ,  there were no Ham radio activities from these huts. Since 1996 both huts do not exist anymore. Together with the dismantling of the Georg Forster Station (WAP DDR-Ø1) from 1993 to 1996 these huts were removed, but the location of the first permanently occupied German Antarctic research station “Georg Forster” at the Schirmacher Oasis, Dronning Maud Land. The original site is situated by the Schirmacher Oasis is  marked by a commemorative bronze plaque with the label in German language and it is became HSM#87 (Historical Site and Monument).
The Huts will continue to remain listed on WAP-WADA  Directory  as a reliable trace of their presence on this related Antarctic site.
TNX Volker Strecke, DL8JDX (aka Y88POL & DPØGVN from 1988 to 1994)
1988-1989  Y88POL  Georg Forster Base  Schirmacher Oasis
1990-1992  Y88POL  Georg Forster Base  Schirmacher Oasis
1992-1994  DP0GVN  Neumayer II Base  Ekstroem Shelf Ice

The Australian Antarctic Division has moved swiftly to adjust its shipping plans for the 2022-23 season with Icebreaker RSV Nuyina unlikely to be in service due to a delay in receiving spare parts.
RSV Nuyina is currently in Singapore for scheduled maintenance. The ship arrived in Singapore in April and was due back in Hobart in October.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and the ship’s operator Serco have been resolving issues and making repairs as part of the normal commissioning process during the warranty period.  AAD Director Kim Ellis said the works included improvements to the hydraulic control system within the propulsion system clutches.

Thanks and Creditit to:  https://www.antarctica.gov.au/nuyina/stories/2022/nuyina-maintenance-shifts-plans-for-antarctic-season/?fbclid=IwAR2fFHvpgddNztceSoPXfWidm-kRH9dCCWkyHCR26kEYme1LX9beP-QhpVo

Two additional vessels, Icebreaker Aiviq and an ice-strengthened Cargo ship Happy Dynamic, have been secured for the upcoming season to transport critical cargo and bring expeditioners home.

Australian Antarctic Division first chartered the Aiviq for the 2021/22 season. The ship undertook two voyages south, refueling Davis and Mawson and assisting with resupply and changeover of expeditioner teams. The Aiviq  (picture above) will form a large part of the 2022-23 shipping season, with RSV Nuyina’s return from maintenance delayed due to a delay in receiving spare parts.