DAVOSA ARGONAUTIC ANTARCTICA LIMITED

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
FIRST POLISH INDEPENDENT
EXPEDITION TO THE ANTARCTIC
IN 1975
The fi rst Polish independent maritime
expedition to the Antarctic took place at
the end of 1975. Its main objective was to
estimate the krill and fish resources in the
Southern Ocean. The expedition reached,
among others, the area of King George
Island, where it landed. After the recon-
naissance of the area, it was decided that
it would be a perfect place for setting up a
research station.
At the turn of 1976/77, the ships MT Dal-
mor and MS Zabrze sailed out of Gdynia,
carrying the materials for the construction
of the station, equipment, fuel, means of
transport, food, as well as participants of
the expedition and their luggage. The ini-
tiator and head of the founding expedition
was Assistant Professor Stanisław Rakusa-
Suszczewski, Ph.D.
Due to its convenient location, easy
access for supply vessels and a nearby
source of fresh water, it was decided to
establish the Station on King George Is-
land in the Admiralty Bay. The patronage
of the Station was given to the eminent
Polish polar researcher Henryk Arctowski
(1871-1958), who participated in the first
scientific expedition to Antarctic on the
ship “Belgica” (1897-1899).
The Station was opened on 26 February
1977 and has been operating continu-
ously until now. The enormous invol-
vement of people connected with the
Station allowed it to survive the political
turmoil during systemic changes and
martial law.