Share

WATCH: SA Agulhas II returns from 'great expedition' after braving heavy sea ice, freezing temperatures and harsh weather

accreditation
The SA Agulhas II. (South African National Antarctic Programme)
The SA Agulhas II. (South African National Antarctic Programme)

The SA Agulhas II docked in Cape Town on Friday after completing an "unprecedented" expedition to one of the most remote and inhospitable parts of the planet.

The Weddell Sea Expedition saw leading international glaciologists, marine biologists, oceanographers and marine archaeologists travel to Antarctica to investigate the ice shelves around the Weddell Sea and, in particular, the Larsen C Ice Shelf.

The crew set off from Cape Town on December 6, 2018 and started the expedition from Antarctica on January 1, 2019.

In addition to the main scientific mission, the team also aimed to locate and survey the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship 'Endurance', which was trapped and crushed by sea ice and sank in 1915.

The scientific expedition navigated through heavy sea ice, freezing temperatures and harsh weather conditions to gather new and vital scientific data aimed at improving our understanding of the rich and little-studied marine life of this ecosystem.

It's hoped the knowledge will contribute towards the protection of the region and to inspire young people about science, engineering and technology.

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

- FOLLOW News24 on Twitter

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
67% - 945 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
33% - 463 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.80
+1.1%
Rand - Pound
23.49
+1.3%
Rand - Euro
20.10
+1.5%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.28
+1.0%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+2.8%
Platinum
923.40
-0.2%
Palladium
957.50
-3.3%
Gold
2,336.75
+0.2%
Silver
27.20
-0.9%
Brent Crude
89.01
+1.1%
Top 40
69,358
+1.3%
All Share
75,371
+1.4%
Resource 10
62,363
+0.4%
Industrial 25
103,903
+1.3%
Financial 15
16,161
+2.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE