Cape Town Welcomes Danish Research Ship

Known as 'Galathea 3', the nine month scientific expedition around the world involves 100 researchers, journalists, students and crew on board the navy surveillance vessel, Vaedderen ('The Ram') which is owned by the Royal Danish Navy.

The vessel departed from Copenhagen in August 2006, starting its journey in the North Atlantic and stopping in the Faeroe Islands and Greenland.

It is now travelling south along the west coast of Africa en route to Cape Town where it will dock from 15 to 18 October 2006. During their Cape Town sojourn, Danish scientists plan to interact and strengthen relations with South African scientists.

From Cape Town, the expedition heads for the west coast of South America to the Galapagos Islands, through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean, concluding its circumnavigation of the globe with a voyage across the Atlantic, and returning to Copenhagen during April 2007.

Denmark's National Minister of Education, Bertel Haarder is also taking part in the expedition which involves 71 research projects. The Galathea 3 expedition is one of the most significant scientific expeditions in the world, and is only the third to be undertaken by Denmark in the past 160 years. The first expedition took place in 1845 to 1847 and the second in 1950 to 1952.

The Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, Andrew Arnolds, will welcome the Galathea 3 on its arrival in the city on the morning of 15 October 2006.

All media are welcome at the following media briefing:

Date: Monday, 16 October 2006
Time: 11:15
Venue: V&A Waterfront, Jetty 2, behind Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town

Issued by:
Lisle Brown
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 021 400 3065
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media queries:
Sindiswa Mququ
Manager: International Relations
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 5132
Luzuko Mdunyelwa
Director: External Relations
City of Cape Town