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Vessels & Stations.
S.A. Agulhas II
S.A. Agulhas II is a South African ice breaking polar supply and research ship owned by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
SANAE IV
The first South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) departed in 1959.
Marion Island
The Marion base is used mainly for environmental/biological research, and weather data collection.
Gough Island
South Africa has been operating a weather station on Gough Island since 1956.
SANAE IV
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Expeditions &
Operations.
Voyages to Antarctica, Marion Island and Gough Island take place annually to replenish supplies and exchange personnel.
Team Structure.
Supplies.
The Voyage.
Living at the Station.
Learn more
Discover.
The South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) consists of three stations, countless research projects, and a history of dedicated team members.
Team Photos.
Research.
Newsletters.
Legacy.
What’s happening
Latest News.
Welcome home Marion79
The 79th Marion Island overwintering team arrived on Marion Island on 21 April 2022. They are back in Cape Town, after spending 386 days on the island and 6 nights on the...
Marion Island Takeover 2023: MAPRU
This team is studying seabirds at Marion Island and has two projects for the period 2021-2023: 1) Avian scavenger project focusing mostly on Black-faced...
Marion Island Takeover 2023: MFM
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a partnership between the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and BirdLife South Africa, working towards...
Nish Devanunthan stepping away from the Ice Zone
Dear Colleagues, As I prepare to turn the page of a decade-long chapter of managing Operations and Infrastructure Support for Antarctica and Southern Ocean work and move on to...
Welcome home Marion79
The 79th Marion Island overwintering team arrived on Marion Island on 21 April 2022. They are back in Cape Town, after spending 386 days on the island and 6 nights on the S.A. Agulhas II for the journey home. If you want to know more about the work this...
Marion Island Takeover 2023: MAPRU
This team is studying seabirds at Marion Island and has two projects for the period 2021-2023: 1) Avian scavenger project focusing mostly on Black-faced Sheathbill, Kelp Gull and Brown Skua as well as some of their prey. 2) FitzPatrick long-term...
Marion Island Takeover 2023: MFM
The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a partnership between the Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and BirdLife South Africa, working towards an operation to eradicate invasive mice from Marion Island. The mice, which were...
Nish Devanunthan stepping away from the Ice Zone
Dear Colleagues, As I prepare to turn the page of a decade-long chapter of managing Operations and Infrastructure Support for Antarctica and Southern Ocean work and move on to new horizons, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every...




SANAE IV















