HMS Protector inspecting Antarctic Treaty sites; first visit to Brazil’s Comandante Ferraz station

Royal Navy Ice patrol HMS Protector has arrived in Antarctica for the first time this season after her long sail south from Portsmouth. She will spend this, the first of her four work periods in the ice this Austral Summer, supporting an international team conducting formal Antarctic Treaty inspections of sites across the Peninsula.

The Ice patrol inspection is undertaken jointly by the UK, Spain and the Netherlands  

Led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and with the support of the British Antarctic Survey and observers from HMS Protector, the international team will inspect a number of scientific stations, historic sites, cruise vessels and yachts.

HMS Protector’s designated Antarctic Treaty Observers, who are tasked to provide specialist advice and support to the inspection team, include the Executive Officer, Medical Officer, photographer and a small team of engineers.

With a flotilla of small boats, including: the state-of-the-art survey motor boat, ‘James Caird IV’; an 8.5m ramped Work Boat, ‘Terra Nova’, and; two Pacific 22 rigid inflatable boats (‘Aurora and ‘Nimrod’), the 5,000 tons Ice Patrol Ship and her highly trained crew are well equipped to deploy personnel ashore or afloat in order to conduct these types of operations.

Undertaken jointly by the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands, the inspection program will be conducted in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty.

Under the Treaty, parties are able to conduct on-site, unannounced inspections of all installations and facilities in the region, in order to ensure observance of all of the Treaty's provisions.

Commencing the program of inspections the team deployed from HMS Protector to the Brazilian research station Comandante Ferraz.

Named after the Brazillian Navy Commander Luís Antônio de Carvalho Ferraz, a hydrographer and oceanographer, Ferraz is located in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, which is near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in the South Shetland Islands.

The inspection of Ferraz Base was particularly poignant for HMS Protector; sailors from the ship helped tackle a fire which broke out and tragically killed two Brazilians at the research station in February, during the last season in the ice.

On completion of the inspection at Ferraz, the team transited to Henryk Arctowski the Polish Antarctic Station in order to commence the second of many planned base inspections. The program of inspections will continue until mid-December.

HMS Protector’s Executive Officer, Commander Don Mackinnon said: “HMS Protector is in the Antarctic representing both the United Kingdom and the Royal Navy in order to promote peace and security in region, and to help the international inspection team determine whether parties to the Antarctic Treaty are meeting their obligations.

“The unique, signature capability of the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Ship, and the significant and very positive contribution it makes to regional co-operation and engagement, has never been more in important. We look forward to a long and productive season in Antarctica.”

HMS Protector will also conduct survey tasks in the South Atlantic over Christmas and New Year before returning to Antarctic waters in January – April 2013.
 

HMS Protector catches stunning sonar imagery and bathymetric survey off St Helena

The Royal Navy Ice patrol HMS Protector heading for another Antarctic season previous visit to South Africa and Falkland Islands has produced stunning sonar imagery of the wreck of a wartime RFA tanker to help salvage experts study the state of it.

 The Ice patrol in on her way to Falklands and Antarctica (Photo: MoD)

Sailors also held a service of remembrance for Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Darkdale, which was lost with nearly all hands when torpedoed in 1941 off the tiny South Atlantic island of St Helena.

In 1941, St Helena served as an important staging post in the war against the U-boats in the South Atlantic. Darkdale arrived off the island that summer, providing fuel for passing Royal Navy warships such as carrier HMS Eagle and cruiser HMS Dorsetshire.

The tanker was anchored off the island's capital Jamestown on the night of 21/22 October when she was struck by at least three torpedoes fired by Germany's seventh-highest-scoring U-boat ace, Korvettenkapitän Karl-Friedrich Merten, in U-68.

Darkdale exploded, turned over and sank almost immediately, taking 41 men aboard down with her; only two men, who where on deck and blown clear by the blast, survived. The wreck may still hold a significant amount of fuel oil which, if discharged, could have an adverse environmental impact on the island.

The wreck is currently being examined by the salvage and marine operations arm of the MOD's Defence Equipment and Support organisation to assess its state and potential environmental impact.

The accurate positioning of what remains of the tanker will be used for any future monitoring and salvage work that may be required.

As is tradition in the Royal Navy, time was also taken to hold an act of remembrance over the wreck, after Protector's divers had visited the wreck to lay a Union Flag on it: “It was a great privilege to be able to play a small part in remembering those that played such a big part in making Britain and the Royal Navy what it is today,” said Leading Diver Chris Hayes.

During her short visit, the ship also took the opportunity to carry out further bathymetric and shore survey work in the Jamestown area, including an entire circumnavigation of the island which will help to produce more up-to-date charts, making it safer for other ships and boats to visit.

Captain Peter Sparkes and his crew of 65 also took the opportunity to host the island's dignitaries and give a tour of the ship to a group of local children.

There was also time for the crew to step ashore, visit the local tourist hot spots, such as Napoleon's residence in exile, climb the 699 steps of 'Jacob's Ladder' and sample some local hospitality. The football match between the ship's team and islanders resulted in a thumping 8-0 defeat for the 'Ice Men'.

The island's governor Mark Capes - who's also responsible for the other remote South Atlantic British territories of Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha - sent a message of thanks to the Portsmouth-based survey ship:

“The loyal and proudly British community of St Helena was delighted to see HMS Protector arrive in James Bay. The visit reinforced all the positive messages that Her Majesty's Government remains committed to helping to ensure the security and prosperity of St Helena.”

Protector is bound for Antarctica to spend a second Austral summer surveying the waters around the frozen continent and providing support to scientists.

Before her first stint amongst the ice she's calling in on Simon's Town in South Africa to carry out last-minute maintenance and work to ensure the 5,000-tonne icebreaker is ready for the rigours of Antarctica:

“It is always good to visit the home of another nation's navy - especially one that has a rich history of association with the Royal Navy,” said Captain Sparkes.

“I hope Protector's visit can reaffirm the strong professional and operational bonds that already exist between the Royal Navy and South African Navy.”

Protector will be in Simon's Town for around ten days before paying a courtesy visit to Tristan da Cunha, surveying the waters around the island, and then moving on to Antarctica.

HMS Protector on route to the Antarctic previous surveying in St Helena

The Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol ship HMS Protector is on her way for an eight-month deployment surveying and patrolling Antarctica. She left Portsmouth late September and is currently visiting St Helena to conduct surveys of the harbour in preparation for the building of a new jetty.

 The Ice Patrol during her last foray in Antarctica

HMS Protector is scheduled to call in the Falkland Islands and will arrive in Antarctica for the austral summer and has plans to make four forays into the ice. During this time she will utilize her multi beam echo sounder and deploy her survey motor boat to ensure the UK provides cutting-edge, hydrographic imagery of the Antarctic region.

Around 80% of the world’s charts are provided by the Royal Navy’s hydrographic department.

The ship will also assist with the re-supply of British Antarctic Survey stations in the region.

Protector’s Commanding Officer, Captain Peter Sparkes, said: “Building upon the success - and the lessons identified - from HMS Protector’s inaugural deployment to Antarctica, the ship and her company is ready in all respects to face again the challenges of the southern ocean. HMS Protector exemplifies the Royal Navy’s global reach and the UK government’s commitment to British interests in the South Atlantic.”

The 5.000 ton ice patrol is equipped with a flotilla of small boats, including: the state-of-the-art survey motor boat, ‘James Caird IV’; a. 8.5m ramped Work Boat, ‘Terra Nova’, and; two Pacific 22 rigid inflatable boats (‘Aurora and ‘Nimrod’). Three BV206 all-terrain vehicles and four quad bikes, complete with trailers, will also be carried and craned directly onto the ice to assist with the re-supply of British Antarctic Survey scientific stations.

HMS Protector has a historic connection with Britain's Antarctic commitment: it was the name of the ship, which preceded the former Endurance (1968-91) in the South Atlantic role.

She will carry out all the functions of an Antarctic patrol ship such as deployed to patrol and survey the Antarctic and South Atlantic, maintaining a UK presence and supporting the international community in the region. This involves close links with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the UK Hydrographic Office and the British Antarctic Survey.