NEWS UPDATE – At the request of Yuris YL2GM – due to him now being threatened by legal action – we have removed the article explaining his problematic time in trying to join a Marion island expedition. We hope an amicable solution can be found.
[NO GO] ZS8W – Marion Island
As a South African, and proud past expedition member to the South African Sub Antarctic island (Marion Island – 1996/7 – ZS8IR, and Gough Island – 2001/2 – ZD9IR) I do not agree with the suggestion to bombard the directorate with useless emails.
The Antarctic program has very strict requirements for team members accompanying expeditions to these areas. These involve medical requirements, research proposals, and often country of origin/nationality limits. Once on the island for the handover period accommodation is VERY tight, as the base isn’t designed for large groups. The overwintering team is only usually a maximum of 20 people.
NO TOURISTS and “Siteseeing” persons are allowed on the island. Even researchers whose work is ocean-based cannot come ashore and are accommodated on board the supply/research ship.
The environmental impact of large antennas is a big problem for the millions of birds on the island and needs to be considered.
I think that this trip will always remain a no-go for foreign operators in a DXPedition format, but the possibility for ZS Operators, who are going on a work trip for 20 months, is still possible.
So please, do not make it more difficult than it already is for ZS operators, by flooding the management with complaint emails about this. It is more likely to irritate them and prevent future operations for local hams.
73
Chris
ZS6RI / ZR6C / ZS8IR / ZD9IR
Hi Yuris,
With all respect to your huge efffort to try activating one of the most needed DXCC, I strongly believe the approach you planned for your upcoming meeting on April 7th with the director is not the proper one. It’s true that the event of actions didn’t play in your favor, and with the Covid situation, you should also understand these management body have seriously others more important problems to handle that dealing with an amateur radio operator that want to use their yearly boat rotation to go there and operate.
You have to admit that you fail in your project, but showing in the face of this management body that they are the one responsible for your fail is not really helping the amateur radio community in general.
Probably others groups or individuals are already in similar discussion, at others levels, with others creative projects, and doing what you plan to do may ruin their projects.
Requesting individuals to express their feelings to the management body is, I believe, also not the proper way. ZS is not P5 and comparing the two is not appropriate. There is many DXCC entities like ZS8 (the KH, the FT ..) and I guess you now understand why they are on the top of the MW list .. it’s not just 2 or 3 failled attempt that will make you go there. I can not details you the background efforts to get the FT4 2014 and 2016 dxpeditions in place, but it required a bit more than dealing with the director of operations
Good luck with your upcoming projects and if you really see no way for ZS8, then move on, there is more than 340 DXCC entities to enjoy our hobby
It’s really not a big ask. If you’re going to leave a comment, please add your callsign. If you prefer to hide behind a fictitious name or call then don’t bother leaving a comment. It’s really quite simple.
What a great way to upset officials. keep email them , keep call them and tell them some crap. It will help you and others in the future.
If you can’t do something your way, let’s kill all options for others? right?