2 000 enjoy SA Agulhas open day

A TOTAL of 2 000 visitors to the annual open day of the SA Agulhas II polar research and supply vessel in Durban enjoyed an opportunity to explore the ship and work of the Department of Environmental Affairs in the oceans and coastal environment.

The open day and exploration formed part of the World Ocean Day celebrations with the theme “Preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean”.

The department’s spokesperson, Zolile Nqayi, said that visitors toured the vessel’s lounge area, which is dedicated to late South African music icon Miriam Makeba in recognition of her role in the struggle for democracy.

Nqayi said the SA Agulhas II is a state-of-the-art vessel and was a first of its kind acquired by the department in March 2012.

He added that South Africa had for more than half a century maintained a presence in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic by establishing permanent research bases on Marion Island, Gough Island and in Antarctica.

Having a year-round presence in these remote locations enabled researchers to conduct seasonal data analysis in various research disciplines, allowing a better understanding of the ecosystem.

Nqayi said that South Africa, through various institutions of higher learning and international collaboration, had built up an extensive dataset on the Southern Ocean and its resources.

This could only be enhanced through the world class technological advancements on the SA Agulhas II, he added.

Voyages to Marion, Gough, and Antarctica allow for data such as sea surface temperature and oxygen and carbon measurements to be collected, which are instrumental to further enhancing our understanding of present day global climate change.

The vast experience in Southern Ocean research has contributed to making the SA Agulhas II a unique research vessel with facilities that enable modern day oceanographic research to take place onboard.

The studies in Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic and the Southern Ocean have produced numerous national and international research publications.