The S.A. Agulhas II has left Cape Town bound for Antarctica on its annual relief and research voyage, under the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to SANAP, this voyage will support South Africa’s research base at SANAE IV and the sub-Antarctic islands this summer season.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) says this vessel will help carry supplies, rotate personnel and enable scientific work on climate, oceans and biodiversity as part of the 2025/26 schedule.
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The ship’s departure was shared by Antarctic Legacy of South Africa and credited Herman van Niekerk of the University of Johannesburg. The visuals show the vessel cutting through choppy seas as it begins this critical mission.
Scientists from the Department of Science and Innovation, the South African National Research Foundation and the University of Johannesburg are on board. They will study Southern Ocean systems and environmental change during the voyage. Researchers say their work could improve understanding of how oceans absorb carbon and affect global climate.
(Forestry and Fisheries Dept)
The SANAE IV team on Antarctica will be relieved and new researchers will join the station later in the season. South Africa’s commitment to polar science underlies these yearly expeditions.
Officials say the expedition highlights national expertise in marine science and adds to global efforts to monitor climate trends and protect fragile ecosystems.
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Picture: Herman van Nieker/ Facebook
