British South Georgia – said by some to be a “Microcontinent” the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean, and is a remote collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands, known as the South Sandwich Islands. The total land area of the territory is 1,507 square miles and there is no native population on the islands; the present inhabitants are the British Government Officer, Deputy Postmaster, scientists, and support staff from the British Antarctic Survey who maintain scientific bases at Bird Island and at the capital, King Edward Point, as well as museum staff at nearby Grytviken.

For those interested in the history the United Kingdom claimed sovereignty over South Georgia in 1775 and the South Sandwich Islands in 1908.       In 1908 the United Kingdom annexed both South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, with the “territory” formed in 1985; previously it had been governed as part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Argentina claimed South Georgia in 1927 and claimed the South Sandwich Islands in 1938.      Argentina maintained a naval station, Corbeta Uruguay on Thule Island in the South Sandwich Islands, from 1976 until 1982 when it was closed by the Royal Navy. The Argentine claim over South Georgia contributed to the 1982 Falklands War.

Now a continuous Global Navigation Satellite System station has been installed on the top of Brown Mountain, above Grytviken, with the data it will provide in the years ahead helping with various research projects, including project to investigate the hypothesis that South Georgia is a tectonic micro-continent.

South Georgia, with its continental shelf area, lies between the Scotia and the South America tectonic plates and currently it is unclear if South Georgia is a crustal block of its own, a micro-continent, or is part of the Scotia plate.    A great start was given to the Global Navigation Satellite System station when 600kg of equipment was lifted to the top of the mountain by the LYNX HMA.8 from the Type 42 Destroyer EDINBURGH on the recent deployment in the South Atlantic.

January is the peak month for visiting cruise ships, but in February 2013 just five visited Grytviken, but there were also visits from five yachts including the replica of Shackleton’s rescue lifeboat JAMES CAIRD.    The four main yachts were all on charter, and there were also visits from two larger motor yachts, both on charter to a photographer.    Unusually both British Antarctic Survey vessels were in King Edward Cove together on the same day - both vessels had also made calls into Cumberland Bay earlier.    The RRS ERNEST SHACKLETON was o charter - see separate report on “Rat Eradication”, whilst the RRS JAMES CLARK ROSS was on routine British Antarctic Survey business.    The Falkland Guardship, the Patrol Vessel CLYDE also was on patrol in South Georgia waters briefly visiting Grytviken     Two fishing trawlers were operating in South Georgia waters (targeting icefish) during February, one of which was inspected and licensed but catches were variable, so only one vessel remained fishing by the end of the February 2013.

The Director of Fisheries for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is based in the Falkland Islands, there being a worldwide involvement in running the fishery – with scientific support and management advice coming from the Marine Resources Assessment Group in London; applied fisheries research conducted by the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge and at King Edward Point; Conservation Measures set by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources which meets annually in Hobart (Tasmania), with foreign policy advice from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.    The day to day administration is done by the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department and of course inspections, licensing and catch monitoring by the Government Officer at King Edward Point (South Georgia) with surveillance and patrolling by the Fishery Officers on their own Patrol Vessel, the  PHAROS SG, a former Northern (ie Scottish) Lighthouse Tender