Program.

1.     ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT

1.     Introduction to the natural environment.

  1. General knowledge on Antarctica and its natural habitat.

  2. Geographical factors and physical characteristics present in the continent, islands and adjacent seas and their interaction with operations.

2.     Meteorology and climatology.

  1. Climate of South American region, Antarctic peninsula, Bellingshausen and Weddell Seas.

  2. Oceanographic factors and their interaction with the atmosphere.

  3. General Circulation.

  4. Mean passage of lows, cyclogenetic zones, migratory anticyclones and blockage (whiteout) weather conditions.

  5. Deranged wind patterns, katabatic effect, local circulations.

  6. Meteors and local phenomena.

  7. Meteorological aspects applied to navigation in the Drake Passage and the Weddell and Bellingshausen Seas.

  8. Special phenomena impacting on operations.

  9. Grounds for satellite image interpreting and weather systems.

3.     Sea Ice and icebergs

  1. Identification of sea ice and icebergs.

  2. Development stages, forms, deformation processes, openings in the ice, topography, stage of melting, ice surface features.

  3. Physical constitution of sea ice, remarkable characteristics, special features of the region.

  4. Drifting of icebergs to South Atlantic and Weddell and Bellingshausen Seas.

  5. Sea ice Codes and terminology.

  6. Observation from ships and helicopters.

    7.

4.     Glaciology (ice of land origin).

  1. General characteristics of dynamics, morphology and influence of continental ice on Antarctic ecosystem.

  2. Ice shelves and glaciers.

  3. Larsen, Filchner-Ronnie ice shelves.

  4. Participation in balancing of the ocean-atmosphere system. Variation index and global changes.

    5.

5.     Antarctic geology

  1. Geological constitution of the continent and islands.

  2. Continental platform.

  3. Seismic data.

  4. Potential Antarctic Resources.

    5.

6.     Oceanography

  1. Physical characteristics of Antarctic waters.

  2. Tides and Tidal Currents.

  3. Circulation and water masses, currents and waves.

  4. Antarctic Polar Front Zone.

    5.

7.     Fauna

  1. Antarctic Marine Ecosystem.

  2. Environmental Factors.

  3. Phytoplankton and zooplankton.

  4. Invertebrates and vertebrates.

 

2.     INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND LEGISLATION

1.     Foreign affairs

2.     International law

  1. Navigation laws within the Antarctic Treaty Area.

  2. Knowledge and data needed to work properly within the "political environment", given the international status in force.

  3. Ice as an object subject to international legal regulation.

    4.

1.      Ice as a natural resource.

2.      Ice and environmental protection.

3.      Navigation in iced seas.

4.      Reference to ice within an area subject to legal instruments.

3.     Antarctic Treaty

  1. General description.

  2. Rules.

  3. MARPOL – Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental protection – Law 24216.

    4.

1.      Legal background and rules in force to prevent shipping pollution.

2.      Drafting of contingency plans to enforce in case of incidents Antarctic shipping pollution.

 

3.     ECOLOGY

1.     Preservation of live resources

  1. Background. Commissions and conventions regulating exports.

  2. Convention for Antarctic Marine Live Resources Preservation (CCRVMA- CAMELAR).

  3. CCRVMA Concepts and regulatory standards.

    4.

2.     Environmental protection and preservation in Antarctica

  1. Scientific and political background on preservation of Antarctic environment.

  2. Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection Annexes.

  3. Main features of the Antarctic environment.

  4. Tourism in Antarctica and environmental protection.

    5.

 

4.     SEA WATERCONTAMINATION

1.     MARPOL. Response to oil spills in Antarctica

  1. Changes in society.

  2. Contamination.

  3. shipping pollution.

  4. National legislation.

  5. International Agreements.

  6. Contingency Plan.

    7.

2.     Real life experience of spill control and cleanup activities in Antarctica

  1. Initial situation.

  2. Outstanding actions.

  3. Recommendations toward development of similar tasks.

  4. Conclusions.

    5.

 

5.     NAVIGATION AND NAUTICAL SAFETY

1.     General characteristics of ships fit for Antarctic navigation

  1. Type of vessel.

  2. Design of hulls.

  3. Propulsion systems.

  4. Ancillary elements.

  5. Maneuverability.

    6.

2.     Ice ship classification

  1. Introduction.

  2. Reinforcement requirements for operations on ice.

  3. Reinforcement for icebreakers.

  4. FINNISH-SWEDISH ICE RULES.

    5.

3.     Ship readiness and preparation

  1. External weather impact on material and crew.

  2. Overhaul. Specific items.

  3. Extra equipment to consider.

  4. Preparation of material before setting sail and during transportation.

  5. Training of Personnel. Equipment.

    6.

4.     Operations at easy area

  1. Nautical characteristics of the area. Nautical instruments.

  2. Overall features of anchorage sites, maneuvers and stay.

  3. Use of smaller vessels.

    4.

5.     Operations at difficult area

  1. Approach, entry and workings in the pack.

  2. Working the pack.

  3. Trapped ship and Stranded ship. Maneuvers and general considerations.

    4.

6.     Operations with low ice class ships

  1. Specific precautions for the area.

  2. Local navigation characteristics and maneuvers.

  3. Preparations to improve safety.

  4. Operations in sea iced waters.

    5.

7.     General characteristics of icebreakers

  1. Hull.

  2. Propulsion.

  3. Ancillary systems.

  4. Maneuverability.

    5.

8.     Operations with icebreakers

  1. Independent operations.

  2. Rescue operations.

  3. General characteristics of Convoy ops.

    4.

9.     Operation with helicopters from ship deck

  1. Characteristics of helicopters fit for Antarctic operations.

  2. Vertrep (vertical replenishment).

  3. Search and rescue.

  4. Glaciological Flights and recognizance.

  5. Common factors influencing operations from helicopters.

    6.

10.Navigational aids

  1. Hydrography surveys.

  2. Antarctic Nautical charts.

  3. Electronic charts.

  4. GPS (Global Positioning System).

  5. Radar Use in Antarctica.

    6. 1.      General features.

    2.      Capabilities and constraints of modern equipment.

  6. A.R.P.A.

    7.  

    6.     NAUTICAL AND RECENT COMMAND EXPERIENCES

    1.     Preparation, planning, command of a Campaign to Antarctica

    1. Plan.

    2. Task definition, purpose and situations.

    3. Drafting.

    4. Supervision.

    5. Recommendations.

      6.

    2.      Operations with auxiliary vessels.

    3.     Operations with a scientific research ship.

    4.     Last Antarctic Campaign.

    5.     Other own experience in Antarctica.

     

    7.     SURVIVAL IN ANTARCTICA

    1.     Survival on land

    1. Procedures to follow in light of emergency.

    2. Refuge/shelter.

    3. Rules to live in the shelter.

    4. Area of Crevasses.

    5. Necessary elements and accessories.

    6. Signals.

      7.

    2.     First aids.

    1. Recommendations against cold.

    2. Fractured bones.

    3. Burns.

    4. Hypothermia and Frostbite.

      5.

    3.     Survival at sea

    1. Abandonment in cold waters.

      2. 1.      Evacuation scenarios.

      2.      Equipment and procedures for ship abandonment.

      3.      Survival on land.

      4.      Water and food supplies.

      5.      Means of Communication.

    2. Immersion in cold waters.

      3.

    1.      Loss of body heat due to immersion.

    2.      Hypothermia.

    3.      Polar diving and diving below ice.

    4.      Suitable diving equipment for Antarctica.

     

    8.     GENERAL DISCUSSION

    1.      Fostering of exchange of experience and knowledge among lecturers and attendants to validate course goals.

Updated: December 21, 2009.