Transportation Antarctica
Ports and harbors:
there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most
coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are
transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and
helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal
stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03
W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under
"Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection in
accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage is
sparse and intermittent; relevant legal instruments and
authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the
Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, to
all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be
complied with (see "Legal System") (2004)
Airports:
there are no developed public access airports or landing
facilities; 30 stations, operated by 16 national governments party
to the Antarctic Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilities
for either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial
enterprises operate two additional aircraft landing facilities;
helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15
locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable
for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, one is greater
than 3 km in length, six are between 2 km and 3 km in length, three
are between 1 km and 2 km in length, three are less than 1 km in
length, and two are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited
to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at
another 15 locations; of these, four are greater than 3 km in
length, three are between 2 km and 3 km in length, two are between 1
km and 2 km in length, two are less than 1 km in length, and four
are of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities generally subject
to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme
seasonal and geographic conditions; aircraft landing facilities do
not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective
governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for
using their facilities; landed aircraft are subject to inspection in
accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; guidelines for the
operation of aircraft near concentrations of birds in Antarctica
were adopted in 2004; relevant legal instruments and authorization
procedures adopted by states party to the Antarctic Treaty
regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas
between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be complied
with (see information under "Legal System"); an Antarctic Flight
Information Manual (AFIM) providing up-to-date details of Antarctic
air facilities and procedures is maintained and published by the
Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Heliports:
27 stations have restricted helicopter landing facilities
(helipads) (2004 est.)
Military Antarctica
Military - note:
the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature,
such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the
carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of
weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for
scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes
Transnational Issues Antarctica
Disputes - international:
Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in
Government type entry); Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ,
Norway, and UK claim land and maritime sectors (some overlapping)
for a large portion of the continent; the US and many other states
do not recognize these territorial claims and have made no claims
themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no claims
have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees
west; several states with territorial claims in Antarctica have
expressed their intention to submit data to the UN Commission on the
Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend their continental shelf
claims to adjoining undersea ridges
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005