Antarctic Safety: Prevention is the First Step

Quark Expeditions has in place standard operating procedures designed to prevent problems from occuring. To us safety is of paramount importance and we are proud of our record. According to a report issued at an Antarctic Treaty Consultative meeting what makes Search and Resuce (SAR) different in the Antarctic is "the remoteness from emergency response assets and facilities - ships, aircraft, land vehicles, stations, refuges and communications."

Five countries in the Southern Hemisphere are responsible for Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs):

  1. Argentina
  2. Australia
  3. Chile
  4. New Zealand
  5. South Africa

All of the countries listed are active in Antarctica and are signatories of the Antarctic Treaty. RCCs are responsible for coordinating Search and Rescue efforts within a designated Sear and Rescue Region (SRR). RCCs are authorised to request ships and aircraft to change course and assist when a distress call is made in the region for which they are responsible.

Three kinds of distress situations are recognized:

  1. Maritime - when a ship at sea is in distress
  2. Aeronautical - when an aircraft is in distress
  3. Land - all other situations

In the rare event that something goes wrong

There international systems and procedures in place for search and rescue in Antarctica are based on the global search and rescue plans of the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

How does a distress call reach the RCCs?

There is an international satellite-based system in place that detect and forward distress signals.

 

Back to Top