QUESTION:  
Do the zodiacs or the Polar Duke accidently run over
animals? What steps do the ships take to prevent this from
happening? 
            Kristi W., 3rd grader, Thomas Lewis' class
            Burnley-Moran School, Charlottesville, Virginia


ANSWER from Randy Sliester, Boating Coordinator
            Palmer Station, Antarctica
            Sat, 1 Feb 1997 10:45:33 -0500
             

Hello Kristi! In answer to your question, no, not to my knowledge 
has the Polar Duke or any of the Zodiacs run over or injured any 
marine mammals. Part of the Antarctic treaty  is to not alter the 
behavior of any of the native wild life, what that means is we go to 
great lengths to avoid causing any annoyance to the wild life in any 
way weather on land or at sea. If there are penguins or seals in the 
water when we are out in the boats we detour around them and if there
allot of them we shut off the engines and just wait until they 
leave.

I hope this answers your questions!
Randy