Tourists Numbers Rise, Antarctica Tightens Shipping Control

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34399680/ns/world_news-world_environment/

Over the past few years, Antarctica has been forced to tighten their shipping controls as tourist numbers have been steadily rising. Although the worldwide economy is in bad shape, there is alot of shipping that still takes place in the world and measures have been taken to ensure a reduced risk of human and environmental disaster. All vessels must now have hulls strengthened to withstand ice of the sea. Almost fifty nations signed the Antarctic Treaty, the world's main tool in managing the continent. The Polar Code will operate under a voluntary basis until it's ratified by treaty states and becomes binding. There was rules about leaving garbage or human waste behind on boats, but never really anything that said what kind of boats could use the water or what kind of fuel could be used. These are most important factors in determining the health and future vitality of the ocean. Heavy fuel oil will not longer allowed to be used in the Antarctic Ocean come 2013. This will have a major effect on the ocean as it will probably allow for more life to flourish in the ocean and the water supply will remain fresh and useful to us. The safeguards also serve the purpose to limit accidents in the region where heavy sleet, ice and fog pose major problems for ships, which could lead to accidents, which leads to a breakdown of the ship in the ocean, which leads to problems for rescuers and environmentalists alike. Tourist numbers have quadrupled in the region since ten years ago. This means alot more ships traveling in the ocean, alot more chemicals dumped into the ocean, and alot more potential garbage thrown overboard ships from careless consumers. The Treaty has been in the works for over fifty years, and it has just currently reached its forty-seventh signature.