Welcome to the Visit and Learn Website
Together we will track HMS Endurance on her 2006/2007 deployment to Antarctica....Home | About the Project | Track Endurance | Location Factfiles | Topical Factfiles | Endurance Kayak | School Links
| About the Project |
 HMS ENDURANCE is the Royal Navy’s Ice Patrol Vessel. She deploys each year in the autumn from her base port of Portsmouth in Hampshire, to the cold and ice of the Antarctica austral summer where she carries out her operational duties for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).
A commercially built icebreaker she was chartered as HMS Polar Circle in November 1991, before being purchased by the Royal Navy and re-commissioning as HMS ENDURANCE in 1992. She certainly lives up to her name with a range of 24,600 nautical miles at 12 knots on a fuel tank capacity of 1,200 cubic metres. She makes 50 tonnes of fresh water per day and can store 270 days worth of dry and frozen provisions.
Two ice modified Lynx Mk 3 helicopters form a major element of ENDURANCE’S capability. These very flexible utility aircraft enable the ship to support BAS fieldcamps located in remote areas of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the South Shetland Islands whose scientists are working on four of the BAS’s eight core scientific programmes – Global Science in the Antarctic Context. In addition to seamanship, engineering and logistics, the Ship’s Company’s (Navyspeak for `crew’) skillset includes some the Navy’s rarer specialisations – a clearance diving team, a six strong Royal Marines detachment trained in cold weather survival, a team of Survey Recorders and a professional Naval photographer with facilities for still and video work.  HMS ENDURANCE’S deployments are normally for 6 months but for the 06/7 season she will be trialling a 9 month deployment to maximise the ship’s time in the ice during the austral summer.
Through this website, you can track the passage of HMS ENDURANCE as she tackles her journey from the UK to the cold of the frozen south, and `home’ again. Factfiles will be provided about various aspects of the journey - from eco-systems and wildlife at locations along the route - to explanations of how HMS ENDURANCE supports the work of organisations such as the BAS to deliver the science that will inform our future understanding of Antarctica and its impact on our global environment.
 About 2.5 times the size of continental USA (or 58 times bigger than the UK) Antarctica is the world’s highest, coldest and windiest continent. For over 200 years the UK has been involved in Antarctic exploration and science, with the Royal Navy playing a key role especially during the Heroic Age of exploration in the first two decades of the 20th Century.
HMS ENDURANCE’S motto is ‘Fortitudine Vincimus’ - 'By Endurance We Conquer'. This motto originates from that of the great Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton who made history in his ship, Endurance during his Imperial Trans-Antartic Expedition in 1914-15. While the story of Shackleton’s Endurance expedition has been told many times, it is also the tale of the most amazing polar adventure. Endurance, a three-masted steam ship became trapped then crushed in the ice of the Weddell Sea. Over a period of some fifteen months Shackleton ensured his men’s survival, leading them across the ice and by boat to Elephant Island, before setting off on an 800 mile voyage in the James Caird, one of the ship's small boats, to summon help from the remote whaling communities on the island of South Georgia. After harrowing experiences at sea and crossing a mountain range on foot, he reached the whaling station at Stromness from where he ultimately returned to rescue the crew remaining on Elephant Island. Remarkably everyone survived. “When disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton” Sir Edmund Hilary – the first person to successfully reach the top of Mount Everest |
| Aims of the Project |
 The aims of this project are to increase everyone’s knowledge of the environment as a whole and to show how people in the Royal Navy contribute to a better world, shaping our lives beyond their traditional military capabilities.
The project contains information such as the current track of HMS ENDURANCE’S deployment (including maps); information on her work in Antarctica; the locations visited on route, as well as a diary from the Ship, photographs, and Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 Science, Geography and Citizenship supporting material. Geographical region: Antarctica, South Africa, South Atlantic, Southern Ocean, UK. World History period: Ancient History, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century. |
| Metlink – The weather recording project of The Royal Meteorological Society |
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For the 06/07 deployment, HMS ENDURANCE is proud to be associated again with the flagship weather recording project of The Royal Meteorological Society.
During 06/07, participants from around the world will be encouraged to make and exchange weather observations once a day by means of an on-line database and, with the help of meteorological professionals, interpret the observations. The project supports Geography, Science and ICT for primary and secondary schools (ages 7 –19) but it is also open to individuals of any age who may wish to take part. The dates for Metlink 2006/7 are: 25th – 29th September, 2006 29th January – 9th February, 2007  During the week of 25-29th Sept, the focus will be on the tropical cyclones of the North Atlantic, North Pacific and North Indian Oceans. September is a month when we can expect these storms to develop – but it has been a rather quiet season so far this year, compared with 2005, which was an extremely active year.
HMS ENDURANCE will be recording weather details during 29th January – 9th February, 2007
However simple your weather recording instruments, you can take part in this project. For further information visit: www.metlink.org |
| Endurance Kayak 66 South |
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During HMS ENDURANCE’S deployment, seven members of the Ship’s Company will be participating in ENDURANCE KAYAK 66 SOUTH, a unique expedition to circumnavigate James Ross Island for the first time in Sea Kayaks.
James Ross Island is a 65km long island off the southeast side of the Antarctic Peninsula, is named after the explorer James Clark Ross who first sighted the island in 1843. The team will kayak around James Ross Island in February 2007 and will encounter icebergs and temperatures as low as -30C.
This unique expedition is the focus of an education pack which will be supported by Portsmouth Football Club and Portsmouth City Council to inspire children to make healthy lifestyle choices and lead fit and healthy lives. |
| Pole to Pole Challenge |
 It has now become a tradition that members of the Ship’s Company in a bid to raise money for the Ship’s Charities, run during the deployment the distance between the poles. Last year in addition to running those taking part could also row, cycle and climb in order to cover the distance.
Kongsberg, the manufacturers of ENDURANCE’S Multi-beam Echo Sounder, have generously sponsored the event. They have agreed to provide the Captain with a cup to be presented each year to the member of the Ship’s Company who completes the greatest distance. They have also donated £3,000 to the Ship’s Welfare fund, much of which will be given to the Ship’s charities.
Thank you Kongsberg |
| Charitable Support |
Every deployment, HMS ENDURANCE chooses a number of charities to increase public awareness of and raise funds for; this deployment is no exception. Below is information on all the charities being supported by HMS ENDURANCE and ENDURANCE KAYAK 66 SOUTH.
 Hampshire Autistic Society is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people within the autistic spectrum and offering a wide range of facilities and services for affected children and adults. This worthwhile charity offers support and advice to everyone - from families and carers, right through to professionals.
To find out more about Autism and the aims of the Hampshire Autistic Society - visit: www.has.org.uk  Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support and push for better cancer care. Cancer affects us all. We can all help.
To find out more about the work of Macmillan Cancer Support visit: www.macmillan.org.uk  Percy Hedley Foundation was established in 1953 as a small charitable school for children with cerebral palsy. Its purpose is to promote the rights, needs and aspirations of disabled people through specialist, quality services.
To find out more about the aims of Percy Hedley Foundation visit: www.percyhedley.org.uk  UK Antarctic Heritage Trust is a charity, registered in 1993. It was inspired by a keen awareness not only of the relevance of Antarctica to issues of global importance but also the need to recognise Britain's long and distinguished part in Antarctic exploration and scientific research.
To find out more about the work of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust visit: www.heritage-antarctica.org |
| Velux 5 Oceans – The Ultimate Sole Challenge |
 The Velux 5 Oceans is the oldest and most established, single-handed round the world yacht race. The ultimate in human endeavour, more people have climbed Mount Everest and travelled to the moon, than have completed a solo circumnavigation.
The 30,000 mile three-leg race is scheduled to begin in Bilbao on 22nd October 2006 and will stop in Australia and the USA before returning to Bilbao approximately 6 months later. 14. Velux 5 Oceans HMS ENDURANCE will provide information and advice to the organisers and followers of the Velux 5 Oceans on weather patterns, ice formations and eco-systems for the area in which she is operating. Dependent on the fleet’s position and the Royal Navy’s operational requirements, HMS ENDURANCE will endeavour to rendezvous with the skippers as they complete their passage of the Southern Ocean to capture images of the Open 60s as they power their way past Cape Horn. For more information on Velux 5 Oceans please visit www.velux5oceans.com |
| The Edinburgh Cow |
| During the summer whilst HMS ENDURANCE was attending the International Antarctic Conference, the city was overrun by cows. The 2006 Edinburgh Cow Parade was well underway. Artists had painted almost 100 cows (obviously not real cows) to amuse the city’s visitors and residents. Each of the cows was then to be sold off at auction to support nominated charities. Strangely, one cow made its way onto ENDURANCE and has become a stowaway. At the moment she has no name. Any ideas? The cow’s adventures will be closely monitored and reported by the website team. |
| Anchor Bear |
HMS Endurance has three affiliated schools - Manor Field Infant School, Crofton Hammond Junior School and St Ippolyts Primary School.
 Joining HMS Endurance as part of the Ship's Company this deployment, are Anchor and Stippoli, two brave mascots from two of the ship's affiliated schools. Anchor is the mascot of Manor Field Infant School in Basingstoke, while Stippoli is the mascot of St Ippolyts Primary School in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Antarctica is not a new challenge to Anchor, as he went to Antarctica with HMS Endurance last season. But this year Anchor is joined by Stippoli, who is new to life on board a naval ship. How will Stippoli and Anchor cope in Antarctica? As the ultimate challenge for any person - not just brave mascots, from schools, their adventures will form part of our National Curriculum supporting material. |
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