Reminiscent of the symbol of Antarctica’s age of innocence’s death, the cruise liner’s badly gashed orange hull rose from the deep, icy waters. While perching calmly upon the sunken ship, penguins look at the oil glistening on the surface of the water oblivious to the danger that lurks. It has been revealed that a lot more of the diesel fuel are gradually spilling out even as it can be remembered that most of it already evaporated.
Times are evolving indeed at the last frontier of this planet. Numerous aircraft, ships, bulldozers and even amphibious trucks are constantly being dispatched by the countries that aim to reinforce their claim to a piece of this Frozen Continent. With fanfare that runs through their respective nations, bases are built and research projects are launched. Weeks within the austral summer, hundreds of well off tourists arrive from specialized travel agency prepared transportation like large cruise liners, military transport planes as well as supply vessels.
Without any passports, people aboard polar skis and private yachts are able to enter with ease. Multitudes of accident have occurred and are still bound to occur and like the case of the oil spill caused by the sunken cruise liner, the wildlife of Antarctic has to pay the price and this a very unfortunate fact, luring in growing questions on politics, legalities and environment, the way many dangerous icebergs abound throughout Antarctica’s seas which are hardly charted. None of them owns the frozen continent as the Antarctic Treaty states so no laws apply then.
Twelve nations, back in 1961 went into this treaty that enabled peaceful research to come into Antarctica as all these countries in the treaty waived their territorial claims for at least 30 years. Eighteen countries only under observer status have nonetheless consented to abiding by all its laws while 8 nations since then, have joined the treaty and have been awarded full right to vote. Every two years, these treaty nations meet. The group succeeded in drafting a plan that will allow strictly regulated exploration and exploitation of the frozen continent?s vase resources of minerals. However, they are now beginning to struggle with issues on marine and air safety, proliferation of hubs and bases, indemnification, medical and rescue facilities as well as other concerns.
Thirty cruises scheduled to call on Palmer brings in about a hundred tourists during the austral summer season Like a wild animal, tourism is mostly uncontrolled. There was a short lived attempt by the Science Foundation in the past year to inhibit tourists from coming in, believing that these impeded the research processes. But then with many prominent Americans demanding to learn how their tax money are being spent, the ban got lifted.
A medical corpsman is among the staff of the station and he has a small single room that is accessible for giving up to four dozen people medical attention as needed. It is not designed for handling a maritime disaster. And station workers said only fair weather prevented a disaster. They said most of the sunken cruise ship’s lifeboats were open, inflatable rafts without oars or motors. The day was calm and they could be towed ashore by station work boats without difficulty. But let us just be thankful that this did not overturn or drifted far out to sea thanks to the merciless Antarctic weather for things would get harder, opine the workers.
Addressing the oil spill quandary, the National Science Foundation immediately released navy and civilian pollution containment experts lugging 52 tons of specialized equipment that they will need. Two million dollars were spent for the mission. Chilean and Argentinian navies come to clean up missions and these cost a lot. Even as the clean up lasted until the middle of March, the vessel that sunk still held over 63,000 gallons of fuel making it impossible to be reached and siphoned out safely which means that as the ship disintegrates, more spills will come out and once a winter storm rages, the risk of everything flowing out is much higher. Hauling away the wreckage, according to experts, would entail so much cost.
Different types of birds like penguins, skuas, cormorants and Arctic terns thrive in the area where the oil spill occurred At the bay, whales and seals swim through. Based on the findings of science experts, indirect evidence links the death of many penguins and birds to the oil spill but the extent of the damage has not yet been determined. Researchers from Argentina, Chile and the United States make up the special team of 15 to study comprehensively the impact of the spill to the environment. It will face many long years before completion while they are left in the dark when it comes to claiming of damages.
As American holds no territorial ownership to the place specifically at or surrounding Palmer Station, they are not eligible for any damage compensation and it will only be on the Antarctic Peninsula, countries such as Great Britain, Argentina and Chile that do. An article that will push each country to contribute financially for any damages especially to the environment shall be proposed by Chile in the next Antarctic Treaty. The Science Foundation is currently trying to organize a coordinating office for emergencies on an international scope, along with an agreement to share costs of clean up missions especially for spills and other similar unwanted events.
Learn more on the topic of Antarctic Cruising Tours. With this website you can get information on antarctica vacations.
5b2S5e ncgyuibkhebo
RLQkvZ wlmiibnjfdlr
Thanks for wtriing such an easy-to-understand article on this topic.