Ice expedition prepares

Press, 21 November 1979, Page 10

Ice expedition prepares

: West German scientists; (and technicians have arrived' (in Christchurch at the beginning of the first German expedition to the Antarctic ; for 40 years. The 20-man Antarctic! North Victoria Land expedition is made up of 12 ■ ; Germans, six New Zealand- 5 <ers, an American, and an (Australian. Twelve of the group are technicians and the remaining eight are scientists. The leader of the group is Dr Franz Tessensohn, a geologist in the newly established Antarctic division of the Federal Institute of Geoscience in Hanover. For the last few days Dr Tessensohn has been talking to staff of the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research which has arranged the logistics of the expedition for the West Germans. The expedition will begin a 10-day survival course at Mount Cook today. The course has been organised by one of the team members, (Mr Gary Ball, a Mount Cook ( ranger," who will act as a (field guide for the Germans |in the Antarctic. The New Zealand base for I the Germans this summer would be Timaru. said Dr Tessensohn. The supply ship

Schepelstrum, with a crew of 17, was due to berth at Timaru on December 4 or 5. The ship would leave on December 6, and probably reach the Antarctic coast by December 12. Originally the expedition was to have been supported by United States Air Force aircraft, said Dr Tessensohn. “However, we found out very quickly that if you want to do effective work in the Antarctic you have to be self-depedent.” The German expedition would spend about 70-days in the Antarctic region known as Northern Victoria. Land, which is about 800 km north-west of New Zealand’s Scott Base, he said. Scientists would be ferried from the ship to the ice by two helicopters, piloted by New Zealanders from New Zealand Helicopters, Ltd. Once ice conditions improved, the ship would be able to move closer to the shore and a temporary land base would be set up, Dr Tessensohn said. The Germans had a bright orange prefabricated hut which could sleep up to 12 people, said Dr Tessensohn. ;The hut would be erected at the side of the Lillie Glacier. I Most of this season’s (scientific work would be geological studies, adding to

; the findings’ of New Zealand (parties which had worked in the area, said Dr Tessen(sohn. West Germany would (take part in the inter!national Northern Victoria Land activities during the (1981-1982 season. | Because West Germany (wanted to take part in these activities, no expedition had (been planned for the next (summer season. “This year’s expedition (has taken all our budget,” jhe said. The prefabricated (hut will be used during the

nternational scientific activities. A second West German expedition to the Weddell Sea area would leave Argentina, about December 17. This party would survey* the site for a pernr|'rnU base in the Antarctic I I ha* Filchner Ice Shelf, s</l Dr£ Tessensohn. West Germany adherH tef the Antarctic Treaty iiw January this year, although* it was not a consultative, member of the treaty group. * German scientists had., worked in the Antarctic some time, although always?) “standing on the of other countries,” said Dr? 1 Tessensohn. A “long overdue” Polatf Research Institute wouldsoon be established to co-or- ( dinate German polar activities, including the Antarctic,’’ ; he said.