Sunken Cruise Ship Threatens Environment
As if a monument ending the age of innocence in Antarctica, the badly gashed orange cruise ship hull fleshes out from glacier 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. To date, there is more diesel fuel leaking out gradually from the wreckage despite the fact that before, much of the oil spill, in tens of thousands, have already evaporated and was thought to be gone.
At this planet’s final frontier, times are changing. Some countries with vested interest either to stake or reinforce their claims to a part of this Frozen Continent are consistently lending their sea vessels, bulldozers, amphibious trucks and airships. Bit by nationalistic fanfare, new bases are build and research efforts fortified. 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. You’ll get further resources on Affordable Antarctica Tours by visiting there.
The last place on earth, where no passport is needed, welcomes private yachts and skiing expeditions. Much like the perilous icebergs around Antarctica’s uncharted seas are the many legal, political and environmental questions that keep hounding the final frontier of the earth thanks to damaging instances like the oil spill caused by the sunken cruise liner, posing a huge threat to Antarctica’s wildlife. None of them owns the frozen continent as the Antarctic Treaty states so no laws apply then.
Twelve nations, back in 1961 went into this treaty that enabled peaceful research to come into Antarctica as all these countries in the treaty waived their territorial claims for at least 30 years. Nations holding only observer status, eighteen of them, have consented to abide by the laws after eight more countries have been granted full voting powers since joining the treaty. Treaty countries meet every two years. This organization was able to create an article to allow strictly regulated exploration and exploitation of the mineral reserves of the continent. But then they now see themselves wrestle with concerns from proliferation of stations, marine and air security, medical and rescue areas, up to indemnification issues.
On average, a hundred tourists goes comes in aboard ships, around 30 of them scheduled to call on Palmer and all these happens during the austral summer. Tourism is uncontrolled and, to some, out of control. Last year, the Science Foundation attempted to keep tourists from visiting, stating that it disturbs the research efforts. But the ban was lifted when influential Americans complained, claiming a right to see how their tax dollars are being spent. If you need more details on Antarctica Holiday visit there.
There is also a medical corpsman that is part of the station staff responsible for accommodating up to four dozen people at a time in a single studio that is small yet accessible. It is not built for the task of handling maritime catastrophes. Only fair weather could prevent a disaster, shares the station workers.They reveal that the sunken ship’s lifeboats were mostly open, inflatable rafts sans motors or oars.Typical station work boats can tow it ashore without much hassle thanks to the very calm day. But on the upside, let’s be thankful things did not turn for the worse as it did not overturn or drift into the middle of the seas with the cruel Antarctic weather, aver the workers.
In immediate response to the diesel spill, navy and civilian pollution containment experts with 52 tons of specialized equipment were tasked by the National Science Foundation, dedicated in their mission. The mission went beyond 2 million dollars. Chile and Argentina’s navy are sent in for expensive clean up missions. The middle of March saw the conclusion of the clean up drive but the ship is impossible to be reached and pumped out safely and it will keep pumping out poison as it contains over 63,000 gallons more and the worst case if a winter storm comes and tears the wreckage apart, which means more spills to come. Hauling away the wreckage, according to experts, would entail so much cost.
The oil spill could affect the wildlife thriving there such as penguins, skuas, cormorants, Arctic terns, as well as other bird species.At the bay, whales and seals swim through. There has been indirect evidence linking the death of many bird species as well as penguins due to poisoning from the oil spill but then as to the extent of the damage, there has been no clear answers yet. A delegation of 15 research experts from Argentina, America and Chile are flown in to assess the impact caused by the spill to the environment. They are left in the dark when it comes to any claim for damages as they wait for years and years of its completion.
Only the nations Argentina, Chile and Great Britain on the Antarctic Peninsula can seek compensation for damages and since the United States has no property rights to the area at or the one surrounding palmer station, they are not eligible for any compensation. Very recently, it was proclaimed by Chile that come the next Antarctic Treaty, they shall propose an article which will put a hold on each country, ordering them to answer financially in the event of another environmental damage or similar problems. The Science Foundation presently is doing everything to organize a coordinating office for emergencies on an international level while trying to achieve an agreement among groups when it comes to costs of cleaning up spills and other unwanted occurrences.
