The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has commended the Nord-Troms District Court for convicting Jarle Andhoy of violating the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the AntarcticTreaty. Andhoy, skipper of the yacht Berserk that went missing on Feb. 21, 2011 in the Ross Sea in Antarctica with the loss of three crew members, was ordered to pay a fine of 45,000 NOK (7,000 USD) on June 23, 2014. Failure to pay will result in a 50 day suspended sentence.
Andhoy’s 2011 expedition was conducted without prior consent from the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), who had ordered the trip to be postponed after Andhoy failed to provide the necessary information about his proposed activities and insurance coverage that are required for a permit under the Antarctic Treaty System. Andhoy returned to Antarctica without authorization again in early 2012 on the yacht Nilaya.According to Andhoy,the purpose of the second expedition was to gather further information about the missing Berserk.
In the District Court, the IAATO said that Andhoy argued that NPI regulations did not apply to his second expedition because he had only sailed in open sea, and did not land on the Antarctic continent. The Court rejected this because Antarctica was their destination and the main purpose of the expedition. Andhoy has told Norwegian press that he plans to appeal.
