Chinese fishing vessel that caught fire has now sunk in the Antarctic

Last week the Kai Xin caught fire in the Antarctic and the crew was evacuated from the ship.  The Chilean government had already sent a tugboat to try to tow it back to port or at least monitor and combat the potential environmental impact of fuel spillage.  However, before the tugboat got there the ship had sunk.  The tugboat will still monitor for fuel spillage, but it appears that there is not much chance of an issue from fuel because the fire is thought to have burned off most if not all of what was aboard.

Source:  Chile says Chinese factory fishing ship that burned off Antarctica has sunk with no one aboard (Washington Post)

Related Posts:

• Chinese fishing ship fire in Antarctica
• Chilean Tug Boat Sent to Chinese Ship on Fire in Antarctica

Chilean Tug Boat Sent to Chinese Ship on Fire in Antarctica

Back on April 17, 2013, the Chinese factory fishing ship Kai Xin caught fire and the crew was evacuated to a Norwegian ship.  The Chilean military and government have been working with the Chinese embassy in Chile to help minimize the ecological impact of the ship.  On Friday, a tug boat was dispatched by Chile's Third Navy Zone equipped to deal with the potential pollution issue of the ship being abandoned and on fire in the Antarctic waters.

Source: Chile sends ship to Antarctica to prevent post-fire pollution by Thomas Whittle

Chinese fishing ship fire in Antarctica

Yesterday, the crew of 97 was rescued from the Chinese factory fishing ship, Kai Xin, by a Norwegian vessel Juvel.  The ship was abandoned due to the fire, but it appears that at least for now it is not sinking.  Chile's Air Force has flown over it and will fly over it again to check its condition.  Chile's military is coordinating to try to minimize the ecological impact of the fishing vessel in the Antarctica including potentially using a tugboat from Puntas Arenas to tow it back to port if the Kai Xin remains seaworthy.

Source: 97 saved from Chinese ship afire off Antarctic by Marianela Jarroud, Associated Press

China plans to set up two new bases by 2015

A few years ago I remember reading about China planning to set up a fourth research base sometime between 2015 and 2030.  Today, though, I read an article about China planning to not only add their fourth Antarctic base by 2015, but also a fifth one.  One of the new stations will a year round station in Victoria Land and the other will be a summer season station located between their current bases of Zhongshan and Kunlun.

Related Articles:

• China to set up two more research stations at Antarctica (from The Economic Times)

First Ever Whale Skelton Found in Antarctic Waters

While I do not find it particularly surprising that the first whale skeleton was only recently found in Antarctic waters, I did find it interesting that only six naturally occurring ones have ever been found on the sea floor worldwide.  It was also interesting to read about how the whale skeletons are part of the ocean's circle of life in that they become reefs.  In this particular case they actually found nine new species on the whale skeleton.  Learn more here.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong is nonfiction informational book geared towards grades 3 and up.  The purpose of the book is to tell the story of Shackleton's 1914-1916 Endurance expedition.  The book also provides some good introductory information about Antarctica as it explains some aspects of the continent's history, climate, and geography in depth to provide a more complete understanding of the struggles the expedition faced and highlight how significant their accomplishments were for the time.  The book reprints some of the actual photographs taken during the expedition expedition to help make the story come to life visually for the readers.  This book has won several awards and honors including the 1999 Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction.

Sea World Orlando promotes new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin with Epic Voyage

Sea World Orlando is promoting the new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin attraction by visiting several cities in the United States with its Epic Voyage promotion.  Epic Voyage will include a massive ice dome, a virtual reality experience, Antarctica themed games in which participants can win prizes, Coca Cola freestyle machines providing free drinks, and even live penguins.   There will also be street teams providing trivia, prizes, and virtual reality experiences.

Epic Voyage Schedule:

• January 19-20, 2013 - The New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
• January 24, 2013 - Gurnee Mills Mall in Illinois
• January 26-27, 2013 - Chicago Travel & Adventure Show
• February 8-10, 2013 - Boston Globe Travel Show at Seaport World Trade Center
• February 23-24, 2013 - King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania
• March 9-10, 2013 - Washington, D.C. Travel & Adventure Show
• March 23-24, 2013 - The Avenues Mall in Jacksonville, Florida
• April TBD - Atlanta stop
• April 27, 2013 - Miami Dolphins Fin Fest 2013
• May 4-5, 2013 - Aventura Mall in Miami, Florida

Related Links:

• New Details on Empire of the Pengun Ride Coming to Sea World Orlando in 2013
• Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin Area Coming to Sea World Orlando in 2013
• Sea World's Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin Ride Vehicle Unveiled

Shackleton Epic Recreating James Caird Voyage

Later this month the Shackleton Epic expedition is going to attempt to historically recreate what is probably the most famous and amazing story of survival, the James Caird voyage from Elephant Island to South Georgia Island and the crossing of South Georgia Island.  The expedition is using historically accurate gear and a replica of the James Caird lifeboat that Shackleton and five of his crew used to get to South Georgia Island and get help to rescue the rest of the Endurance crew after their lost their ship sunk in the Antarctic in 1915.  They will have some modern help available, though, as a ship will follow them for filming as well as to offer support if necessary.

You can follow the expedition on their Facebook page here.  They also have a website here, but at the time of this post it appears to be down.

Whale Wars 2013: Sea Shepherd Ships Depart for Antarctic

This year the Sea Shepherds have 4 ships that they are using to try and keep the Japanese from killing any whales in the Antarctic this season.  The ships are now headed to the Antarctic ahead of the Japanese fleet, which was delayed this season due to issues with the factory ship.  It should be interesting to see how this season goes with the leader Paul Watson stepping down as the key figure due to legal actions and evading extradictions that are out for him from Costa Rica and Japan.  Also, a United States court has ordered them to stay at least 450 meters from the Japanese, which is quite far compared to some their previous antics and would be interesting to see if they actually keep with it and if so what they end up doing to keep their goal of stopping the Japanese from killing any whales.

Related Articles:

• Sea Shepherd boats set sail for Antarctica

The Coldest Journey Expedition to Attempt Winter Crossing of Antarctica

The Coldest Journey is the name of the expedition that is attempting what is said to be the first ever attempt to cross the Antarctic during the winter.  This feat is one of the last great polar challenges remaining to be accomplished.  The expedition is expected to begin its trek on March 21, 2013 at Crown Bay in Queen Maud Land in Eastern Antarctica.  The expedition plans to finish around September 21, 2013 at McMurdo Sound where they will remain until being picked up by a ship in February 2014.

Learn more about the expedition on their website here.