Indian Post Offices in Antarctica


Indian Antarctic Program begun on December 6, 1981 with launching of the first Indian Expedition at Goa. Subsequently Indian expeditions have been going to Antarctica every year.

India was admitted to the Antarctic Treaty on the August 19, 1983 and obtained Consultative Status on the September 12, 1983. India was admitted as a member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) on the October 1, 1984 and of Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in 1986. India ratified the Environment Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty in 1997.

The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, Goa, was established in 1998 at Goa an autonomous R & D Institution of the Department of Ocean Development. NCAOR is designated as the nodal organization for the co-ordination and implementation of the Indian Antarctic Program, including the maintenance of India's permanent station in Antarctica.

The first and the second Indian Antarctic Expedition were in Antarctica for 10 and 57 days respectively. India built its first permanent station 'Dakshin Gangotri' in 1984 and 12 members of the 3rd Expedition stayed for over four months during winters returning on Jun 6, 1984.

Dakshin Gangotri was decommissioned in 1990 and was converted into a supply base. The second permanent station ‘Maitri’ was built during 1989. The third permanent station will be built in 2006.

A post office was setup at Dakshin Gangotri in 1983 during the 3rd Expedition and 2000 covers were reportedly postmarked.

The information in the listing is presented in following format:
Launch Date at Goa till 18th expedition, and at Cape Town, South Africa from 19th expedition onwards
Date of Landing at Antarctica
Date of return in India
Name of the Ship

1

1981 Dec 6
1982 Jan 9
1982 Feb 22
MV Polar Circle

2

1982 Dec 1
1982 Dec 28
1982 Mar 22
MV Polar Circle

3

1983 Dec 3
1983 Dec 27
1984 Mar 29
MV Finnpolaris

4

1984 Dec 4
1984 Dec 28
1985 ?
MV Finnpolaris

5

1985 Nov 13
1985 ?
1986 ?
MV Thuleland

6

1986 Nov 26
1986 ?
1987 ?
MV Thuleland

7

1987 Nov 25
1987 ?
1988 ?
MV Thuleland

8

1988 Nov 29
1988 ?
1989 ?
MV Thuleland

9

1989 Nov
1989 Dec 27
1990 Mar 27
?

10

1990 Nov 27
1990 Dec 20
1991 Mar 25
?

11

1991 Nov 27
1991 Dec 23
1992 Mar 24
MV Thuleland

12

1992 Dec 5
1992 Dec 28
1993 ?
MV Thuleland

13

1993 Dec 8
1994?
1994
MV Stepan-Krishninnikov

14

1994 Dec 17
1995?
1995 Mar
MV Polarbird

15

1995 Dec 7
1996 Jan 1
1996 Mar 21
MV Brinknes

16

1996 Dec 12
1997 Jan 4
1997 Apr 5
MV Polarbird

17

1997 Dec 8
1998 Jan 3
1998 Mar 31
MV Polarbird

18

1998 Dec 14
1999 ?
1999 Mar 30
MV Polarbird

19

1999 Dec 9
1999 ?
2000 ?
MV Magdalena Oldendorff

20

2000 Dec 30
2001 Jan 9
2001 ?
MV Magdalena Oldendorff

21

2002 Jan 8
2002 ?
2002 ?
MV Magdalena Oldendorff

22

2003 Jan 14
2003 Jan 25
2003 Apr
?

23

2003 Dec 18
2003 Dec ?
2004 Apr 4
MV Emerald Sea

24

              

2004

 

25

2005
2006
2006
MV Paardeberg

26



2007
2007
2007
MV Emerald Sea

Indian Anarchic Expedition Covers are available for Sale at http://www.newzeal.com/theme/Bases.htm

Copyright © 2005, Stamps of India, New Delhi, India | All rights reserved | Updated: Wednesday, January 09, 2008

 Copyright © 1997-2008, Stamps of India, New Delhi, India | All rights reserved

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