- This event has passed.
This day in history: the S.A.S. Protea sails for Antarctica after krill
February 10, 2016 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
On 10 February 1978 the South African hydrographic vessel S.A.S. Protea commenced an Antarctic cruise for the (then) Sea Fisheries Branch of the Department of Industries as part of an an international study of Antarctic Krill Euphausia superba and other biological aspects of the Southern Ocean. Aboard was a Westland Wasp Helicopter of 22 Squadron, South African Air Force that was used to search for krill swarms.
The ice-strengthed ship reached the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula near the South Shetland Islands and visited South Georgia and Bahia Blanca, Argentina.
The Protea returned to South Africa on 21 April 1978.
Selected Reference:
Cram, D.L. Agenbag, J.J., Hampton, I. & Robertson, A.A. 1979. SAS Protea Cruise, 1978. The general results of the acoustics and remote sensing study, with recommendations for estimating the abundance of kril (Euphausia superba Dana). South African Journal of Antarctic Research 9: 3-14.
John Cooper, Principal Investigator, Antarctic Legacy of South Africa, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University