MRCC Cape Town Head of Maritime SAR Operations, Lt Col Andre Botes, recently attended a workshop in Valparaiso, Chile, to discuss improving Search and Rescue (SAR) and response time in the Antarctica. Representatives attended the meeting were from the 5 SAR regions associated with Antarctica – South Africa, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and Australia. Representatives from the National Antarctic Programme and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators were also present.

The focus of the meeting was to discuss and seek solutions for the support of passenger ships in the Antarctic region and what SAR procedures need to be implemented in order to reach the vessel in the fastest time when a distress situation arises.

It was also decided to use the SANAE base in Antarctica as an adhoc rescue co-ordination centre, operating under the jurisdiction of the MRCC Cape Town, for SAR in the South African region of the Antarctica. This came about with a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Transport and the Department of Tourism responsible for Antarctica and the Islands.