India, Jan. 6 -- The MV Vasiliy Golovnin, an expedition vessel chartered by India, embarked on its journey from Cape Town to Antarctica for the 43rd ISEA Voyage in the early morning hours of December 23, 2023. The expedition is composed of 21 members from India, one from Bangladesh, and two from Mauritius. Air support is facilitated by two helicopters: an Aerospatiale 350 B3 and a KAMOV 32, with a total crew of nine members - led by Dr Yogesh Ray a senior scientist from Antarctic Operations Group of NCPOR. The voyage is overseen by a team of 42 crew members from M/S FESCO in Vladivostok.

The participants from Bangladesh and Mauritius are part of the commitment from Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India which is providing unique...