Last Place On Earth Where No Passport Is Needed

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. Oblivious to the danger surrounding them, specifically from the thin oily sheen on the water, many penguins calmly perch on the overturned vessel. Even as some of the tens of thousands of diesel fuel contained in gallons evaporated after the shipwreck, more are beginning to spill out.

Times are quickly changing at the final frontier of Earth. Numerous aircraft, ships, bulldozers and even amphibious trucks are constantly being dispatched by the countries that aim to reinforce their claim to a piece of this Frozen Continent. Research efforts are undertaken with nationalistic fanfare along with new bases being established. During the austral summer, well heeled tourists arrive by the hundreds each week on cruise ships, supply vessels or military transport planes contracted by specialized travel agencies. You’ll get further resources on 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. The continent of Antarctica belongs to no one so no laws apply to it, as stated in the Antarctic Treaty.

The treaty involved 12 countries who signed it back in 1961, making them all set aside their territorial stakes for around 30 years and allow peaceful research to thrive for at least the next thirty years. As eight powerful nations that joined the pact were granted full voting powers, 18 nations were only given observer status while agreeing to abide by all its rules. Among the treaty nations, there are meetings held 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. Grappling with issues like indemnification, air travel safety, medical and rescue operations as well as proliferation of work bases is what they have to do now.

Scheduled to call on Palmer, 30 or more cruise liners enable about a hundred tourists per occasion to come in especially once the austral summer season sets in. Tourism is hardly controlled and people even think it often goes out of control. The Science Foundation briefly tried to ban tourist visits last year, arguing that it interfered with research. But then with many prominent Americans demanding to learn how their tax money are being spent, the ban got lifted. If you need more details on antarctica vacations visit there.

Among the staff of the station is a medical corpsman who mans a small clinic that can be used to treat up to two to four dozen individuals situated at the base. Maritime disaster management is not one of its strengths.And station workers said only fair weather prevented a disaster. There were no longer any oars or motors on the open, inflatable rafts found in the sunken sea vessel, shared the workers. They were easily able to be towed to shore with work boats at the station for the day was very pleasant. 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.

Responding to the oil spill, the National Science Foundation ordered navy and civilian experts in pollution control, taking with them specialized equipment that weighed 52 tons. The mission amounted to over 2 million dollars. Navy men from Argentina and Chile are sent to cover costly clean up work. The clean up, which lasted until the middle of March, still was not enough for the submerged ship still contains around 63,000 gallons that can’t be safely pumped out and it will keep seeping out as the wreckage disintegrates in time or worse, it could spill massively if a winter storm breaks the ship up. It would be much too costly to tow the wreckage, according to experts.

Teeming with wildlife especially birds like skuas, cormorants, penguins, Arctic terns and other species, the area of the oil spill is at risk. Many whales and seas swim through the bay. According to scientists, indirect evidence that many penguins and bird species were poisoned due to the spill, but as to the extent of the damage, they have not yet determined that. The environmental impact of the spill is now being studied by 15 researchers, a special team composed of experts in research from Argentina, America and Chile. To be completed, so many years will have to pass and this without the promise of any damages to be rewarded.

Due to the fact that American holds no territorial rights to the area, on or surrounding Palmer Station, they will not be granted compensation to the area of the accident, on the Antarctic Peninsula for the only countries that can claim compensation would be Great Britain, Argentina and Chile.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. For cost sharing in clean up of spills and other accidents, agreements must be made, not to mention the conception of an international coordinating office for emergencies and these are currently considered by the Science Foundation.