AntarcticaheritageHistoryLegacyMarion IslandPrince Edward IslandsS.A.Agulhas IISouthern OceanSub-Antarctic

Commemorating the Arrival of SA Agulhas II in Cape Town – A Symbol of Discovery and Stewardship On 3rd May 2012, the SA Agulhas II arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, from the shipyards of Rauma, Finland—a milestone that marked the beginning of a new era for polar research and exploration under the South African […]

BiodiversityConservationEnvironmentInternational Celebration DayMarion IslandPrince Edward Islands

Every year on February 2nd, the world comes together to celebrate World Wetlands Day, marking the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, signed in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran. This global observance highlights the vital role wetlands play in sustaining biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and supporting life on Earth. In 2025, as we reflect on […]

ArchiveheritageHistoryLegacyMarion IslandPrince Edward Islands

4 January 1948 – Lieutenant-Commander John Fairbairn clambers ashore on Prince Edward Island and claims it for South Africa. Following the occupation of Marion Island on 29 December 1947, Lieutenant-Commander John Fairbairn, Captain of the frigate H.M.S.A.S. Transvaal, is landed by “crayfish dinghy” after being towed by the ship’s motorboat into Cave Bay on Prince […]