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- Environmental activists on Thursday raised their concerns over a Russian research vessel on its way to the Antarctic.
- They do not want the ship or any others that may be conducting fossil fuel exploration in the Antarctic to dock in SA's waters.
- The vessel reportedly has equipment for seismic surveys that harm marine life.
- For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.
Environmental activists on Thursday took to the Cape Town harbour to raise their concerns over the docking of a Russian research vessel, which has been involved in seismic blasting for fossil fuel exploration in the Antarctic.
Daily Maverick reported that the vessel, Akademik Alexander Karpinsky, is making its way to South Africa's waters.
Environmental campaigners, Extinction Rebellion (XR) Cape Town, promptly organised a protest to raise awareness about their opposition to fossil fuel exploration, especially that of the Antarctic. They want the ports authority to refuse the vessel and any others involved in prospecting for oil and gas in the Antarctic to dock in South Africa.
The research vessel has been instrumental in conducting exploration in the Antarctic, according to a 2020 statement by Russia's geological exploration company RosGeo.
Spokesperson for XR Cape Town Judy Scott-Goldman told News24 that exploration in the Antarctic is bad news for three reasons.
The first relates to the harm that seismic surveys pose to marine life and the Antarctic environment. Secondly, the fossil fuel reserves, when burned, would contribute to global warming, which undermines the commitments to the Paris Agreement to limit temperatures rising beyond 1.5 degrees C. Thirdly, the discovery of oil and gas in the Antarctic could also spark global conflict as countries race to claim the reserves.
Scott-Goldman admitted that it was probably too late to have the port authorities stop the Akademik Alexander Karpinsky from docking, but believes the protest action is a signal to other companies that "the public have got eyes on them" and would be holding them accountable to the Antarctic Treaty.
"We don't want them to change the rules and make it possible to mine on the Antarctic," she said.
South Africa was among the 12 countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. There are now 54 signatories – including Russia.
The treaty coordinates relations among states conducting research regarding the Antarctic and the southern ocean.
The treaty states that Antarctica should continue to be used for "peaceful purposes" and should not "become the scene or object of international discord". The treaty also allows "freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica" and promotes international cooperation for that purpose. The treaty further prohibits mining in Antarctica.
Environmental activists are concerned that fossil exploration would undermine this treaty.
"Exploration today, exploitation tomorrow, it's about that," said Patrick Dowling, Western Cape chairperson of Wildlife Environmental Society of South Africa. He said that as a signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, South Africa should use its influence in a "positive way".
He said that civil society also has a role to play in the fight to stop fossil fuel exploration. "We should show ships coming in that they are not going unnoticed … We are aware of you – and if it comes to that, we will take you to court later on," he said referring to recent court cases where civil society successfully blocked seismic blasting off the South African coast.
"Climate instability is upon us. Climate collapse is in our imminent future. We should be leaving fossil fuels in the ground and not exploring for more," said Jacqui Tooke of XR Rebellion.
Tooke said that the ports authority should take "moral responsibility" for the ships coming through and there should be proof that there will be no oil and gas exploration. "We want to see an end to have ships coming here using our ports to go on to prospect for oil and gas in Antarctica."
Captain Robert Divhambele, acting harbour master for the Port of Cape Town, said that the Akademik Alexander Karpinsky would be docking for the purpose of refuelling and replenishing supplies.
"All foreign vessels coming into South African ports are cleared by the Department of Transport (DoT), and as such TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) may not deny access to any vessel that has been cleared to enter the port by DoT," he said.
