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Bulletin No 155, October 2004

Twenty-seventh Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
Cape Town, South Africa, 24 May – 4 June 2004

Resolution 4 (2004)

Guidelines on Contingency Planning, Insurance and Other Matters for Tourist and Other Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area

The Representatives,
Concerned at the potential impacts, including the imposition of additional costs, that tourist or other non-governmental activities may have on national programmes, and the risks to the safety of those involved in search and rescue operations;
Desiring to ensure that tourist or other non-governmental activities undertaken in Antarctica are carried out in a safe and self-sufficient manner;
Desiring further to ensure that the risks associated with tourist or other non-governmental activities are fully identified in advance, and minimized;
Recalling the “Procedures to be Followed by Organizers and Operators”, as set out in the Attachment to Recommendation XVIII-1;
Noting Measure 4 (2004) on “Insurance and Contingency Planning for Tourism and Non-governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area”, and desiring to take certain steps before it enters into effect to promote its objectives in addition to recommending further guidelines to be followed by those organizing or conducting activities without the supervision or support in the field of another operator or a national programme;

Recommend:

That Parties should require those under their jurisdiction organizing or conducting tourist or other non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area, for which advance notification is required in accordance with Article VII (5) of the Antarctic Treaty, to follow the Guidelines annexed to this Resolution.

Guidelines on Contingency Planning, Insurance and Other Matters for Tourist and Other Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area

Those organising or conducting tourist or other non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area should ensure:

  1. that appropriate contingency plans and sufficient arrangements for health and safety, search and rescue (SAR), and medical care and evacuation have been drawn-up and are in place prior to the start of the activity. Such plans and arrangements should not be reliant on support from other operators or national programmes without their express written agreement; and
  2. that adequate insurance or other arrangements are in place to cover any costs associated with search and rescue and medical care and evacuation.

And the following guidelines should also be observed in particular by those organising conducting activities without the supervision or support in the field of another operator or a national programme:

  1. that participants have sufficient and demonstrable experience appropriate for the proposed activity operating in polar, or equivalent, environments. Such experience may include survival training in cold or remote areas, flying, sailing or operating other vehicles in conditions and over distances similar to those being proposed in the activity;
  2. that all equipment, including clothing, communication, navigational, emergency and logistic equipment is in sound working order, with sufficient backup spares and suitable for effective operation under Antarctic conditions;
  3. that all participants are proficient in the use of such equipment;
  4. that all participants are medically, physically and psychologically fit to undertake the activity in Antarctica;
  5. that adequate first-aid equipment is available during the activity and that at least one participant is proficient in advanced first-aid.