Interesting Shipping Facts About The Davis Sea

The Davis Sea is a part of the Southern Ocean and is located along the coastline of East Antarctica. To the south, this marginal sea is surrounded by Antarctica while the Australian Antarctic Territory borders it to the northern side. A few other small seas lie near the Davis Sea, including the D’Urville Sea, Mawson Sea, Somov Sea and Ross Sea.

The Davis Sea is situated in a remote area of the world, much of which lies in a pristine condition. This water body is important for the global climate system and plays an intrinsic role in marine research and biology, climate studies and geopolitics in the Southern Hemisphere. The environment is harsh, with extremely cold temperatures, floating sea ice, icebergs and blizzard conditions, which make navigation difficult even for the most experienced seamen.

Read this article to learn more about navigation in this icy sea, biodiversity, geographical features and much more.

Shipping in the Davis Sea

The presence of strong icy winds, snow storms, icebergs, pack ice and freezing temperatures make navigation in the Davis Sea impossible in peak winter months (April to September) when ice cover rises, though shipping is carried out using icebreakers which break thick ice so research ships carrying personnel and supply vessels with food and other essential items can reach the research stations like the Casey, Davis and Mawson Stations, whose operation is important for Australia’s scientific endeavours in Antarctica.

Seafarers sailing in this water body must keep themselves informed of the rapidly changing ice and weather conditions, and refer to the updated ice charts else their ships could get stuck in ice for months.

Shipping in the Davis Sea is limited to summer months i.e. from November till March, when the weather conditions are still more favourable. Icebreakers, specialised research ships and supply vessels are the main types of ships crossing the Davis Sea.

Ports & Research Stations in the Davis Sea

Commercial Shipping is quite limited in this remote region. Ships usually dock at research stations, three of which are worth mentioning.

The Davis Station on the Vestfold Hills near the Davis Sea coast was founded in 1957. This Australian facility researches the region’s glacial conditions and ice shelves which signal climate change. Scientists also focus on Antarctica’s marine ecosystem, the impact of global warming on the region’s species, ocean currents etc.

The Mawson Station began operating in 1954 and is the longest Australian research station to have operated continuously. The Casey Station is another prominent research facility in Antarctica.

Tourism is negligible in the Davis Sea due to a lack of port facilities and unpredictable conditions. Though cruises to Antarctica are offered by some cruise lines, their itineraries cover places with established ports like the Antarctic Peninsula, the Ross Sea and the South Shetland Islands. These trips offer guided tours and scientific outreach programs to guests interested in exploring the wilderness.

Major Cargo Shipped In the Davis Sea

The cargo transported in the Davis Sea depends on the requirements of the research station, the scientists working in these facilities and the basic needs of the inhabitants.

The principal commodity is food, fruits, vegetables and packaged or canned items that remain fresh due to extreme cold. The second important commodity is diesel fuel and gas needed for heating, electricity production and powering snowmobiles, ATVs and supply vessels.

Ships sometimes also carry construction materials and tools for repair and maintenance or for the expansion of the research facility, including material for insulating the rooms, plumbing tools, etc. Medicines are also supplied along with scientific equipment required for specialised research.

Since proper waste disposal from these facilities is a major environmental concern, ships take back waste, including sewage and solid waste, per the environmental protection laws. Research samples, data etc are sometimes sent to Australia, especially from the Mawson Station.

Home to Seals, Adelie Penguins and Whales

Though conditions are quite inhospitable, the nutrient-dense waters of the Davis Sea support many marine species such as phytoplankton that are at the centre of the food chain. They flourish in summer and feed on nutrients from the sea depths brought by the ocean currents and support other species like zooplankton which are eaten by fish and krill.

In turn, krill comprise food sources for whales and seals. These small crustaceans are also consumed by Adelie penguins that live along the shores of Antarctica.

The Davis Sea is home to the Weddell Seal that breeds on the sea ice in winter, leopard seals, crabeater seals, blue whales, humpback whales, minke whales, antarctic toothfish, icefish, penguins and seabirds such as south polar skua.

Geographical Features of the Davis Sea

The Davis Sea is not very deep compared to nearby seas in the Southern Ocean. It has shallow waters and the continental shelves are a major characteristic of the seabed. The Davis Ice Shelf covers the sea, extending from the coast of Antarctica. There are glaciers and ice tongues which make the region important for studying glaciology and the rise of sea levels.

Also, the largest ocean current on the planet, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current flows from around the waters of Antarctica. It has a major influence on the world’s ocean circulation, and the extent of sea ice and also controls the distribution of heat around the globe. The region’s polar front lies around the Davis Sea boundary, forming an interplay between the cold waters and the warmer waters, defining the region’s oceanography.

Drygalski Island lies in the Davis Sea

The Drygalski Island is 20.4 km long and rises to 325 metres in the Davis Sea, around 85 km off the northern shores of Queen Mary Land, part of the Australian Antarctic Territory. The 220 km2 island was seen closely from the ship Aurora, headed by Sir Douglas Mawson when returning back in 1914. It was first observed in 1912 by the members of the Australian Antarctic Expedition.

Sir Douglas Mawson named the island after Erich Von Drygalski of the German Antarctic Expedition, who is said to have first charted the island.

The Soviet Union began operating a field station called Mir on the island in the 1960s to monitor meteorological conditions.

Discovered by the Australian Antarctic Expedition

The Davis Sea was first explored by the Australian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914, led by Sir Douglas Mawson on the ship Aurora. The goal of the expedition was to map the uncharted regions of Antarctica, carry out scientific research, collect relevant data and record unique geographical features which would fuel future exploration and research.

Though Mason and his colleagues made significant contributions in this regard, it was Captain John King Davis, a well-known Antarctic explorer and navigator who was second in command. He was involved in many other expeditions and extensive mapping efforts of the region. He was also the chief officer of the ship Nimrod during Earnest Shackleton’s Expedition to the Antarctic in 1908 and 1909. Hence, Douglas Mawson named the Davis Sea after him.

This expedition led to the availability of the first charts of the Mawson Coast, including the Davis Sea though more detailed surveys could not be performed due to the inhospitable environment.

Role in Geopolitics and Environmental Significance

The Davis Sea is located within the boundaries of the Australian Antarctic Territory which is part of the Antarctic Treaty System, an international agreement which governs the region, ensuring the promotion of scientific endeavours while keeping it free from exploitation of any kind and military activities of nations. It prohibits exploiting the pristine environment for minerals and prevents any activity that might threaten the delicate ecological balance.

The Antarctic Treaty has provisions which call for environmental protection of the region and its surrounding areas. Hence, the Davis Sea and its nearby water bodies are part of a protected zone where human activities are strictly monitored and regulated.

Since global warming has taken centre stage, with the thinning of the ozone layer, rapid melting of glaciers and rising sea levels, Antarctica has become a frequent topic of discussion and an important one in world political discussions centring around sustainability and maritime decarbonisation.

History of Whaling in the Davis Sea

The indigenous peoples like the Inuit hunted whales in the region for thousands of years, using harpoons and small boats. However, commercial whaling began in the 17th century and focussed on bowhead whales which were valued for their blubber, baleen and oil.

Whalers from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Britain made quite a fortune, hunting whales whose oil was used to make candles, light lamps, and other valuable products that were in high demand during that period.

Hence, Greenland became a site for whaling and several whaling stations came up in the 18th and 19th centuries, which were used for processing the whales caught in the neighbouring seas.

However, overhunting led to a decline in the whale population and after the Second World War ended, bodies like the International Whaling Commission were formed to protect the dwindling population of these majestic species. By the 20th century, whaling was banned.

Conclusion

The Davis Sea is a part of the larger Antarctic marine ecosystem and plays a crucial role in climate regulation around the world. In this remote sea, commercial shipping is limited due to the harsh environment and the only ships that frequent the waters are research vessels carrying personnel to Antarctic research stations, or supply vessels loaded with the equipment and basic supplies needed for smooth operations. The logistical difficulties, the strict environmental regulations governing the area and seasonal limitations make navigation quite challenging.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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