Legacy | South African National Antarctic Programme

International Day of the Seafarer 2022

by Ria Olivier | Jun 25, 2022 | Announcement, Antarctica, Current Event, International Days, Legacy, Marion Island, SA Agulhas II, Southern Ocean

Day of the Seafarer, launched in 2011, is a day to pay tribute to all those working in the maritime industry. This year’s theme is ‘Your voyage – then and now, share your journey’.

Seafarers play a crucial role in the South African National Antarctic Programme.

I had the opportunity to come in contact with the newly promoted Chief Officer Subramoney, working for African Marine Solutions (AMSOL). AMSOL manages the South African polar research and supply vessel, the S.A. Agulhas II, and the Algoa research vessel.

This is the journey of Chief Officer Delicia Subramoney

THEN and NOW – from cadet to Chief Officer

My journey started as a trainee (cadet) onboard the SA Agulhas II. I joined the vessel on its maiden voyage from Finland (click here, for images). I’ve fulfilled all navigational ranks onboard such as 3rd officer and 2nd officer, whilst working with AMSOL. And 10 years later, promoted to Chief Officer. It’s been a very challenging yet rewarding journey stepping onboard as Chief Officer and being a part of senior management after all these years.

Was becoming a seafarer always your dream?

Yes, I was introduced to the career and encouraged to apply for maritime studies at a very young age, due to my love for the sea and strong-willed characteristics. I began my maritime and seafarer career at the Durban University of Technology in 2011 and I’ve been at sea for 10 years.

Any special places you’ve visited while working onboard the S.A. Agulhas II?

South Georgia will always be my ultimate experience. I’ve never experienced a place more serene and beautiful.

Describe a typical day as Chief Officer onboard the S.A. Agulhas II?

The chief officer on board is responsible for safety and security, and managing the deck department and its operations. A typical day involves a lot of running around, safety discussions, organizing operations, and a ridiculous amount of coffee.

Being a seafarer can get really tough at times, what are the challenges of being a seafarer?

There’s honestly too much to mention. The maritime industry is faced with so many challenges, and at the same time quite neglected. It was especially difficult during the Covid-19 pandemic with an extended tour of duties, restrictions on shore leave, not being able to see your family, commercial pressure, and an overall stressful environment. I think the overall challenge for me is managing stress in such a demanding environment. Having a land-based job makes it a bit easier because you have access to family, friends, and other facilities that help you destress. However, being on a ship for long periods of time becomes an overwhelming cycle.

Some last words:

My journey at sea has shaped me into the person I am today. Being a seafarer exposes you to extreme conditions. It is very challenging but at the same time contributes to your personal growth. Being a woman at sea, I feel it is my responsibility to make the environment better for the next generation. I hope that all seafarers, especially women, that come into this career can leave their mark and contribute to a more equal and diverse system. Nothing on a ship is more important than a healthy working space and teamwork. It’s not just one person’s responsibility to run the ship, it’s the officers, crew, catering staff, engineers, cadets, etc – and I am thankful for all that I have worked with and continue to learn from!

To Chief Officer Delicia Subramoney and the rest of the crew onboard the S.A. Agulhas II

Thank you for pursuing this vital career in the marine industry. Thank you for ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers boarding the vessel.

Check out the video below by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 25 June 2022.

Images: supplied by Delicia Subramoney

SANAP PhD graduate – first black observational ocean biogeochemist

by Ria Olivier | Dec 22, 2021 | Legacy, News, Oceanography, Research, SA Agulhas II, Science, Southern Ocean

Congratulations to all SANAP graduates of 2021. A special congratulations to Dr Mhlangabezi Mdutyana, who just made history by being the first black South African to graduate with a doctorate in observational ocean biogeochemistry.

He is part of the Parallel cycling of nitrogen and iron in the upper Southern Ocean: implications for biological CO2 drawdown and global ocean fertility project led by Principal Investigator, Dr Sarah Fawcett (Department of Oceanography, University of Cape Town).

Read Dr Mdutyana’s inspirational story here. Dr Mdutyana was interviewed by various news channels, see below. Dr Mdutyana is a true inspiration to the future generation of scientists in South Africa.

Anche Louw, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, 22 December 2021.

Marion 78 celebrates Spring!

by Ria Olivier | Sep 2, 2021 | Legacy, Marion Island, Uncategorised

Marion 78, our Overwintering team members at Marion Island celebrate Spring 2021. (Above(l-r: Alicia Siyasanga, Tlhonolofatso)

Our Meteorologist team of the South African Weather Services, Alicia Phakula (Meteorologist Technician), Siyasanga Mpehle (senior Meteorologist) and Tlhonolofatso Tebele (Meteorologist Technician) made some time to take these pictures on Spring day in the snow and share their experience with us.

Danielle Conri, field assistant on killer whales of the Marion Island Marine Mammal Program of Pretoria University celebrates spring day while crossing though Marion Island to sensus seals (photo credit Wild Ocean Wanderers)

Always good to make a snow angel.

Follow Wild Ocean Wanderers on Facebook to keep up to date with the Marion 78 team

Celebrating biodiversity of Marion Island

by Ria Olivier | May 22, 2021 | Environment, International Days, Legacy, Uncategorised

In 2014 on International Biodiversity Day the theme was “Island Biodiversity”. The Department of Forestry , Fisheries and the Environment(DFFE) state the following in 2014:“The legacy of a unique evolutionary history, many island species are endemic – found nowhere else on Earth. Islands harbour higher concentrations of endemic species than do continents, and the number and proportion of endemics rises with increasing isolation, island size and topographic variety.”

Today on International biodiversity day we celebrate Marion Island in all its diversity. “With increasing development pressures and climate change islands are now more threatened than ever before. Unless there is immediate action to save the remaining unprotected hotspot areas, the species losses will increase severely especially among those species that are endemic to these islands. Protecting them is vital and necessary, to ensure their conservation for future generations.” – Media release DFFE

The theme for this year is “We are part of the solution for nature”- in an Instagram post David Hedding(left) highlight the landscape response to climate – Did you know South Africa had a glacier until very recently?

“In 1966, Dr Brian Huntley(right) photographed the summit region of Marion Island known as the ‘Ice Plateau’.

Flow lines visible in the photograph showed that ice was moving (top – image 1- left). In 2004, while doing my Masters, I decided to return to same spot and rephotograph the Ice Plateau to compare (middle – image 1- left). Sadly, much of the ice was melting away and when assessed in the context of climate amelioration recorded at the island provided evidence for the most drastic landscape response to climate change on the island. In 2021, I decided to try get back up to the Ice Plateau. Fortunately, I got a lucky break and managed to get back up on a relatively decent day to summit Mascarin Peak (image 4 -right) and rephotograph the area again (bottom – image 1- left).

Sadly, I noticed even further melt-out with all the ice caves now gone and much of the remaining buried ice also having disappeared (image 2 -left & image 3-right).

The remaining ice was protected from increasing air temperatures and insolation (solar radiation) under a layer of scoria so the ice probably lasted a lot longer than it should have and although a few pockets of buried ice were still visible the ‘Ice Plateau’ as it was once called is no more (images 5-left & 6-right).”

Be part of the solution give your comments on The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Barbara Creecy, on the revised National Biodiversity Framework (NBF) 2019 to 2024. Minister Creecy granted an extension until 07 June 2021 for public consultation. An electronic copy of the Government Notice and the draft revised framework can be downloaded from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment website from the following link: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 Of 2004): draft revised National Biodiversity Framework published for public comment in terms of the National Environmental Management [G 44229 – GoN 171]

Images, captions: David Hedding

Dr Brian Huntley publication available form the Antarctic Legacy fo South Africa antarcticlegacy@sun.ac.za

Watch History meets todays Present Day in the Hunt for Shackleton’s Endurance.

by Ria Olivier | Jan 29, 2021 | Antarctica, Discover, Legacy, Oceanography, Research, SA Agulhas II

In an article in January 2019 you were introduced to the South Africans on the Weddell Sea Expedition with the S. A. Agulhas II. Many scientific articles have since been published and a lot of research has been done with samples taken during this expedition.

Since then a documentary has been made for the History channel by Atlantic Productions. The documentary will be viewed on DST Channel 186 on Sunday 31 January 20:00. See trailer on YouTube.

Research included different institutions from South Africa, and you will be able to recognise a few faces such as Dr Sarah Fawcett Tahlia Henry and others. Captain Knowledge Bengu (interview)with the crew of the S.A. Agulhas II can be seen in the video as well as Freddie Lighthelm as Ice Pilot.

There is lot of great footage of our vessel in this Antarctic Weddel Sea and history has been made.

Watch the documentary on History Channel.

Marion 77 light candles to start 2021!

by Ria Olivier | Jan 4, 2021 | Legacy, Marion Island, Overwintering Team, Uncategorised

The Marion 77 Overwintering team celebrated Christmas and New Years eve with a few activities.

The one action that will stay with our SANAP community is their lighting of their candles on New Years eve as requested by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in memory of those who lost their lives through COVID-19. They had a moment of Silence and sang our national Anthem “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”

They had a great Christmas Lunch where Mpho Mashau made special biscuits for everyone.