the Southern Ocean, compared to 29,799 in 2005-2006
(estimates provided to the Antarctic Treaty by the International
Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), and does not
include passengers on overflights and those flying directly in and
out of Antarctica).

Transportation
Southern Ocean

Ports and terminals:

McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica
note: few ports or harbors exist on southern side of Southern Ocean;
ice conditions limit use of most to short periods in midsummer; even
then some cannot be entered without icebreaker escort; most
Antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and,
except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or private
vessels; vessels in any port south of 60 degrees south are subject
to inspection by observers under Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty;
The Hydrographic Committee on Antarctica (HCA), a special
hydrographic commission of International Hydrographic Organization
(IHO), is responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical
charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and
facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other
aids to navigation in support of safety of navigation in region;
membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government
has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources
and/or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area; members of HCA are
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, France,
Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa,
Spain, UK, and US (2007)

Transportation - note:

Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal

Transnational Issues
Southern Ocean

Disputes - international:

Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but
Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert
claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the
Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in
extending those continental shelf claims under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to include undersea
ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or
maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves
(the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formal
claims exist in the waters in the sector between 90 degrees west and
150 degrees west

This page was last updated on 18 De