by Ria Olivier | Nov 2, 2022 | Announcement, Antarctica, Gough Island, Jobs, Marion Island, Prince Edward Island, Prince Edward Islands, SA Agulhas II, SA Polar Research Infrastructure, SANAE, SANAP, SAPolarRI, SAPRI, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic
As per job advertisement:
The South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) is a research platform funded by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
SAEON is mandated to establish and manage long-term environmental observatories; maintain reliable long-term environmental data sets; promote access to data for research and/or informed decision making; and contribute to capacity building.
This position is supported by the Department of Science and Innovation’s South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI) programme and will be based in Cape Town.
A Senior Electronics Technician to provide technical and logistic support for the SAPRI programme’s various research and long-term monitoring activities in the offshore marine and Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica, conducted onboard South African and international research vessels.
Application Closing Date: 16 November 2022
Click here to view the position advert.
Read more about SAPRI:
South African Polar Research Infrastructure (SAPRI): Feedback and start of the Preparatory Phase
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa
by Ria Olivier | Sep 20, 2022 | Announcement, Gough Island, Legacy, News, Overwintering Team, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Stations, Team Photo
L-R: James Burns, Selvin van Wyk, Karabo Mokwena, Nkosi Madama, Kim Stevens, Peter Chuku, Vonica Perold and Roelf Daling.
The 67th Gough Island Overwintering Team has returned to Cape Town. Two members of this team stayed behind on Gough Island.
Departure to Gough Island: 15 September 2021
Disembarked at East Pier: 20 September 2022
Gough 67
The 67th Gough Island Overwintering Team – Offical Team Photo
This image was taken during midwinter.
Back (L-R): Selvin van Wyk, James Burns, Nkosi Madama, Karabo Mokwena, Kim Stevens, Roelf Daling; (front) Sandile Nkebe, Vonica Perold, Peter Chuku and Tshililo Kharivha.
Links to relevant articles:
Check out all the G67 newsletters produced!
Team photo supplied by: Roelf Daling
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 20 September 2022
by Ria Olivier | Sep 8, 2022 | Announcement, Gough Island, Newsletters>Gough Island Newsletters, Overwintering Team, SANAP
“It is with mixed emotions that we send these final greetings from the G67 team! The time has come to present our ultimate Bunting newsletter before handing over the reins to the next editor(s) who will be responsible for introducing the resilient members of G68.” – Editor Gough Bunting.
Read the final Newsletter form the Gough67 Overwintering Team. Inside this issue:
“Goodbye Gough Island and thank you for everything.” – Sandile Nkebe (Team
leader of G67)
by Ria Olivier | Aug 25, 2022 | Announcement, Current Event, Gough Island, News, Overwintering Team, Stations, Team member, Team Photo, Tristan da Cunha
G68 Team (Left to Right): Lucy Dorman, Joyfull Ntobeko Gaju (removed from the team and replaced with G67 Medic, Sandile Nkebe), Philani Siyabonga Ngcobo (removed from the team and replaced with G67 Assistant Meteorological Technician, Tshililo Kharivha), Sibusiso Maduna, Rebekah Goodwill, Mphumzi Brooklyn Zilindile, Eddy Mfezeko Xaki, Khuliso Collen Maphaha, Mayembe Kapenda.
On 20 August 2022, the S.A. Agulhas II departed to Gough Island, via Tristan da Cunha. They will soon arrive at their new home, where they will be living for the next approximately 13 months. The G68 team will replace the G67 team.
68th Gough Island Overwintering Team (G68)
We asked the team members why they applied to be part of G68?
Two team members stayed behind from G67. The Medical Orderly, Sandile, will be replaced at a later stage and Tshililo will stay on for the year as part of G68.
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 25 August 2022, updated on 19 September 2022.
by Ria Olivier | Aug 23, 2022 | Current Event, Gough Island, News, Overwintering Team, SA Agulhas II, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, Stations, Take-Over Operations, Tristan da Cunha
The S.A. Agulhas II departed from East Pier, V&A Waterfront on her annual Gough Island relief voyage on Saturday, 20 August 2022.
On the way to Gough Island, the vessel will stop at Tristan da Cunha, offloading Tristan passengers and cargo. This stopover will approximately be 60 hours. From here the vessel will depart to Gough Island. Passengers will disembark and cargo will be offloaded with helicopters. Scientific projects will commence.
Onboard are the DFFE Logistics team, the 68th Gough Island Overwintering team (9 team members), the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) maintenance team, Helicopter crew, Scientific personnel, and Tristan passengers.
Logistics Team
Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)
Directorate: Southern Oceans & Antarctic Support
Management, logistics and support for this voyage |
| Departmental Co-ordinator (DCO) | Ms Nomzi Ndzandzeka |
| Assistant DCO | Mr Zukisa Kuse |
| Technical Section | Mr Willem Boshoff |
| Medical Doctor | Dr MC Taggart |
| Waste Technician | Mr Tatulo Fipaza |
68th Gough Island Overwintering Team (Click here for profile pictures of the team members)
| Medical Orderly/Team Leader | Mr Joyfull Ntobeko Gaju |
| Diesel Mechanic | Mr Sibusiso Maduna |
Communications Engineer/
Deputy Team Leader | Mr Mayembe Kapenda |
| Electrical/Base Engineer | Mr Eddy Mfezeko Xaki |
| Senior Meteorology Technician | Mr Philani Siyabonga Ngcobo |
| Assistant Meteorology Technician | Mr Khuliso Collen Maphaha |
| Assistant Meteorology Technician | Mr Mphumzi Brooklyn Zilindile |
| RSPB Field Assistant | Dr Lucy Dorman |
| RSPB Field Assistant | Ms Rebekah Goodwill |
National Department of Public Works Maintenance Team
| Project Manager Leader | Mr Takalani Mudau |
Refrigeration Mechanical
& Deputy Leader | Mr William E Kriege |
| Carpenter | Mr A Petersen |
| Carpenter | Mr E Roberts |
| Carpenter | Mr ME Gazi |
| Bricklayer | Mr MI Jantjies |
| Plumber | Mr M Maluka |
| Plumber | Mr MW Samsodien |
| Plumber | Ms N Sogoni |
| Painter | Ms B Nelani |
| Crane Technician | Mr James Page |
| Crane Technician | Mr L Pierce |
| Mechanical | Mr J Zeelie |
| Mechanical | Mr MLG Porta Nova |
| Mechanical | Mr B Mpengesi |
| Mechanical | Mr LN Thomas |
Helicopter Crew
| Team Leader & Engineer | Mr Raymond van der Watt |
| Captain | Mr Waldo Venter |
| Captain | Mr Eugene Viljoen |
| First Officer | Mr Mukapitendwa Khalushi |
| First Officer | Mr Jason Abrey |
| Engineer | Mr Daniel Carstens |
Engineer Engine/
HLO/Crewman | Mr Warren Vogt |
| EngineerCrewman | Mr Eduan Teich |
| EngineerCrewman | Mr Jodi Brophy |
| Fire Fighter | Mr Zakariah Johnson |
Scientific fieldwork planned for the 2022 take-over
| South African Weather Service (SAWS) |
| Atmosphere and Ocean Surface Research |
| Group Leader | Mr. Julian Grace |
|
| Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) |
| Monitor trends and changes in water quality, provide guidance and support |
| Group Leader | Ms Silindokuhle Ndlela |
|
| Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
| Gough Island Restoration Programme |
| Group Leader | Dr Antjie Steinfurth |
|
| South African National Space Agency (SANSA) |
| Polar Space Weather Studies |
| Group Leader | Mr Christopher Gray |
|
| University of Fort Hare |
| Landscape and climate interactions (LCI) |
| Group Leader | Dr Elizabeth Rudolph |
Featured Image: Gough Island station (Credit: Julius Klette).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 23 August 2022
by Ria Olivier | May 31, 2022 | Announcement, Gough Island, Marion Island, News, Prince Edward Island, SANAP, Science, Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic, Tristan da Cunha
Congratulations to Prof Peter Ryan, awarded with the BirdLife South Africa Gill Memorial Medal, for an outstanding lifetime contribution to ornithology in southern Africa.
Prof Ryan, an A-rated Ornithologist and Director of the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town, has been part of the South African National Antarctic Programme for more than two decades, doing research on seabirds breeding on Marion Island and the Tristan archipelago, which includes Gough Island. Prof Ryan’s latest research within SANAP is focused on “Avian scavengers as indicators of recovery of an island biota”, co-led with Dr Maëlle Connan (Research Fellow in the Marine Apex Predator Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University). Click here to read more about this project.
He is the author and co-author of a number of books on seabirds and the sub-Antarctic islands. Here is his latest publication: Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa.
The Citation for Prof Ryan’s award – Click here.
In 2012, John Cooper, who was extensively involved in long-term seabird monitoring studies on Gough and Marion islands since the 1980s, received this award for his outstanding contribution to ornithology in southern Africa.
Featured Image: Prof Peter Ryan at the 5th SANAP Symposium (2018) in Hermanus, where he presented his work on “Plastics in Antarctica – preliminary findings from the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE).
Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 31 May 2022
“It is with mixed emotions that we send these final greetings from the G67 team! The time has come to present our ultimate Bunting newsletter before handing over the reins to the next editor(s) who will be responsible for introducing the resilient members of G68.” – Editor Gough Bunting.
