Antarctic permits and compliance for your yacht expedition
Operating a private yacht in Antarctica requires careful preparation, environmental documentation and operational planning.
60 South can assist yacht owners, captains and management companies with the preparation and coordination of Antarctic permits, including guidance on IAATO procedures and Antarctic Treaty requirements.
How it works
From planning to Antarctic operations
01 — INFORMATION
Gather the required information
We work with the Owner, Captain or yacht manager to gather the necessary vessel, crew, itinerary and operational information.
02 — DOCUMENTATION
Prepare the application
We assist with preparing the documentation required for the Antarctic permit application, including the operational and environmental information associated with the proposed expedition.
03 — COORDINATION
Coordinate the permit process
We coordinate the application process with the relevant authority. The permit itself is ultimately issued by the competent national authority.
Tailored support
Compliance built around your expedition
Every Antarctic yacht operation is different. The requirements depend on factors such as the yacht, flag state, passenger nationalities, itinerary and planned activities. We help identify these requirements early and incorporate them into the wider expedition plan.
- Antarctic permit coordination
- Environmental documentation
- Operational planning
- Guidance on IAATO procedures
- Antarctic Treaty requirements
- Itinerary planning
- Landing-site planning
- Operational risk assessments
- Practical requirements for operating a private yacht in Antarctica
Who we support
Support for different Antarctic yacht operations
Private yacht owners
We assist private yacht owners with the preparation and coordination required for an Antarctic yacht operation.
Expedition teams
We can support expedition teams with operational planning, itinerary and landing-site planning, and operational risk assessments.
Captains
We work with captains to gather the necessary vessel, crew, itinerary and operational information for the Antarctic permit process.
Yacht management companies
We work with yacht management companies to prepare the required documentation and coordinate the Antarctic permit application process.
Start planning at least six months in advance
We recommend beginning the process at least six months before the intended Antarctic voyage.
This allows sufficient time for permit applications, vessel and crew preparation, itinerary development, logistics and, where required, flight arrangements.
Preparing your yacht for Antarctica
A yacht intending to operate in Antarctica must be suitable and properly prepared for navigation in polar waters, and its crew must have the appropriate competence and experience for cold-weather and high-latitude operations.
60 South can review the proposed operation with the Owner, Captain or yacht manager and identify the principal:
- Operational requirements
- Documentation requirements
- Safety requirements
- Environmental requirements
- Environmental documentation
- Operational procedures
- Risk assessments
- Expedition-specific requirements
More than obtaining a permit
The objective is not simply to obtain a permit, but to ensure that the proposed yacht, crew and operation are appropriate for the intended Antarctic programme.
60 South can work with yacht owners, captains and expedition teams to establish the requirements for the planned operation and coordinate the preparation process before departure.
Start planning
Planning an Antarctic yacht expedition?
Start planning permits and compliance early with our team.
