Artist’s impression of the future Russian research and expedition vessel “Ivan Frolov”. The Project 23680 vessel is set to serve as the new flagship for Russian polar research in the Arctic and Antarctic. (Photo: AARI)Construction of the new Russian research and expedition vessel “Ivan Frolov” is pr
Whilst expedition ships carrying fewer than 500 passengers allow shore excursions, large cruise ships such as the Celebrity Equinox, carrying over 3,100 passengers, usually sail through Antarctica without allowing passengers to go ashore. (Photo: Celebrity Cruises)Tourism in Antarctica has been grow
From 20 to 23 August 2026, Hobart will be celebrating its unique connection to Antarctica – with science, history and activities for the whole family. Hobart’s waterfront. (Foto: AAF)The Australian Antarctic Festival will return to Hobart’s waterfront from 20–23 August 2026, celebrating Australia’s
The Xuelong 2 leaves the port of Dalian and sets off on China’s 16th Arctic expedition. (Photo: MNR)China has officially launched its 16th Arctic expedition. It is the country’s first research mission to the Arctic under the current 15th Five-Year Plan. The expedition set sail on 3 July 2026 from th
The Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, part of Project 10510 ‘Lider’, is set to become the world’s most powerful icebreaker with an output of 120 megawatts (163,000 PS) and enable year-round shipping through the Northeast Passage. (Photo: Rosatomflot)With the construction of the new nucle
The Professor Molchanov belongs to the so-called “Akademik Shuleykin class” of small research vessels. It was specifically designed to operate in cold waters and near-ice regions, making it particularly suitable for expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic.After an interruption of almost three decade
This is what the new Indian research vessel is expected to look like in the future — modern technology and innovative equipment are set to establish new standards for maritime research. (Photo: NCPOR)On April 8, 2026, a major milestone was reached in the construction of a new Indian ocean research v
Due to the influence of tides and mechanical breakdown, plastic in water is transformed into microplastics. These are tiny plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm (up to 5000 micrometers). (Photo: Unsplash)While the world powers compete for control of the Arctic, a new and unexpected con
The St. Kliment Ohridski Station is a central pillar of Bulgaria’s Antarctic strategy: it strengthens the country’s international research presence while also serving as a training site for young scientists in the natural and geosciences. (Photo: BAI)Bulgaria began its Antarctic activities as early
The Madrid Protocol functions as a long-term spatial ordering device. This environmental agreement protects Antarctic space in a hierarchical manner while simultaneously defining the conditions for its governance and management. In doing so, it reveals a blurred boundary between environmental conser
Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean is tightly managed, but new research shows that bycatch and local fishing pressure remain important concerns. Krill fishery and dependent wildlife in the Southern Ocean (Illustration: Léa Zinsli)Antarctic krill supports not only a unique marine ecosystem but also
Saab GlobalEye: Based on a Bombardier Global 6000/6500. (Photo: Saab)The Arctic is increasingly moving into the focus of global politics. The reasons for this are vast natural resource deposits, new shipping routes emerging as ice melts, and its strategic location between major powers. At the same t
The port of the city of Murmansk is one of Russia’s most important seaports. It is particularly significant because it remains ice-free year-round—even in winter. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)On April 23, 2026, the European Union adopted new measures against Russia as part of its 20th sanctions package. The
The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard. View from Mine 7 overlooking Adventdalen, Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The closure of Mine 7 on Svalbard marks the end of coal mining in Longyea
The Georg Forster Station, a research station of the former GDR in the Schirmacher Oasis (Queen Maud Land), was located in a rare ice-free region of Antarctica and therefore offered particularly favorable conditions for scientific research. (Photo: Alfred Wegener Institute)On April 21, 1976, the fut
The Southern Cone region, composed of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, constitutes the southernmost tip of South America and, in light of the 1982 armed conflict, cannot be analyzed without also considering the presence of the United Kingdom through the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. This territor
Yamal LNG facilities in Sabetta. (Photo: Novatek)The Arctic is gaining increasing international importance due to its vast natural resources, especially natural gas. Russia plays a central role in this context, particularly through its liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. However, since 2022, Weste
Port Stanley – Falkland Islands (Photo: Marcel Schütz)The Falkland Islands are once again the focus of international political reporting. The trigger is statements from the circle around Donald Trump, which have been reported in various media outlets in connection with foreign policy issues of the U
From 2027, guides outside Svalbard’s settlements must hold official approval under a new certification system. Information event held in Svalbard Svalbard is set to introduce a new, formal guide certification system in the Arctic, marking a shift in how tourism and field safety are regulated in remo
Nobu Shirase wants to go to the South Pole! That was the joke of the year in 1909. The Japanese were rolling with laughter, and the press openly mocked him. Nobu Shirase was the third contender in the race to the South Pole. The first Japanese Antarctic expedition became the strangest exploratory jo
The Svalbard Treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access and peaceful use of the Arctic archipelago for all signatory nations. Signing of the Svalbard Treaty on 9 February 1920 by Fritz Wedel Jarlsberg, head of the Norwegian negotiating team(Photo: Photographer unknown/Governor of S
The icebreaker “50 Years of Victory” is now used not only for industrial purposes but also for exclusive trips to the North Pole and, despite its age, remains one of the most powerful vessels of its kind. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Russia, once a global leader in icebreaker construction, is facing a poten
The submarine “Karelia” appears state-of-the-art following its refurbishment.The return of the strategic nuclear submarine “Karelia” (K-18) to active service marks a new phase in the expansion of Russia’s nuclear naval forces in the Arctic. The modernized vessel, which holds particular symbolic sign
Camp Century was first carved into the ice using snow cutters; metal supports were then placed over it and covered again with snow. (Photo: Wikimedia)Camp Century looks like something out of a spy movie: a city beneath the ice, hidden in the Arctic. But behind its spectacular façade lay far more tha
