Tourism Presents Growth In Antarctica

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. Much more of the diesel fuel in gallons unbound in the shipwreck emit the substance gradually after tens of thousands of these have already been cleaned up by the natural process of evaporation.

Times are evolving indeed at the last frontier of this planet. Those nations eying a slice of the Frozen Continent send in sea vessels, bulldozers, airships or even amphibious trucks to assist. Many projects on research are launched with this nationalistic fanfare abounding, not to mention new bases constructed. 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.

The last frontier of Earth does not require any passports and so even people aboard private yachts and polar skiing expeditions come in without much hassle. Unwanted tragedies and accidents as with the case of the cruise liner that sank, Antarctic wildlife is, sadly, paying the price as tons of legal, environmental and highly political questions flood in the way huge, perilous icebergs abound through the barely explored waters of this planet's final frontier. No one owns the frozen continent so no laws apply to it based on the Antarctic Treaty's stipulations.

The pact was signed in 1961 by 12 countries who agreed to put territorial claims on hold for at least 30 years and reserve Antarctica for peaceful research. Eighteen nations hold observer status while eight countries have since joined the treaty and were given full voting powers. Among the treaty nations, there are meetings held every two years. The group ordered the development of a plan that enables strictly regulated exploration and exploitation of the continent?s vast mineral reserves. But it is only beginning to grapple with such issues as the proliferation of bases, marine and air safety, indemnification, medical and rescue facilities.

At the time of austral summer, about 30 cruise ships headed to Palmer are able to bring in an average of about a 100 voyagers per occasion. Uncontrolled tourism often seems to be like a wild animal. The past year saw a brief ban on tourists caused by the Science Foundation who firmly thinks that tourists deter the process of research. But with influential citizens in America demanding to know how the tax money they paid were used, the ban was lifted immediately.

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. Dealing with disasters in the high seas is definitely not its strength. And station workers said only fair weather prevented a disaster. Lifeboats in the sunken cruise ship were mainly open inflatable rafts but the oars and motors are no longer there. The day was extremely calm, making them easily able to be towed ashore using work boats. But they could have overturned or been blown out to sea if the volatile Antarctic weather had taken a turn for the worse, the workers said.

To quickly address the oil catastrophe, navy and civilian pollution containment team were dispatched by the National Science Foundation taking with them 52 tons of specialized equipment to carry out the mission For the mission, over two million dollars was spent. 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. Getting the wreckage out would be very pricey, states experts.

The home of skuas, penguins, cormorants, Arctic terns and many other birds might be affected by the massive oil spill. Passing through the bay are whales and seals. Indirect evidence linking the death of penguins and birds to the spill has been established by most scientists, but then the extent of the damage is yet to be finalized. Comprehensive data on the environmental damages caused by the spill is being gathered by the special team of 15 research experts from countries such as America, Argentina and Chile. There is not a possibility for damage claims and it will also take years before it is over.

Only the Antarctic Peninsula and countries like Chile, Great Britain and Argentina can claim damages for United States of America do not own any property rights whatsoever to the area at or around Palmer Station. Lately, plans on an article that will ensure each country will be financially responsible for environmental damages and other accidents shall be pushed by Chile, come the next Antarctic Treaty. For the costs on spill and accident clean up missions, an agreement on cost sharing must be made, along with the organization of an international emergency coordinating council and these are all being planned by the people from the Science Foundation.

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

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by: Ava Sanchez

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