Trending 
A shortage of specialised polar diesel has stalled South Africa’s annual relief mission to Marion Island, leaving a team of researchers waiting weeks for their scheduled rotation.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment confirmed on Saturday that the SA Agulhas II icebreaker was unable to depart Cape Town last month as planned due to global fuel scarcities linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis.
The specialised fuel, which is engineered to prevent freezing in extreme sub-Antarctic temperatures, only arrived in South Africa on May 1.
While the technical process of testing and mixing the diesel is underway, the vessel is expected to remain in port for several more days.
Once refuelled, the ship will begin the five-day journey to the remote research station located nearly 2,000 kilometres southeast of the mainland.
Government officials have assured the public that the 20-person crew currently on the island is safe and well-provisioned.
The base has enough fuel to maintain operations until at least May 20 and possesses food supplies for approximately two months.
Backup generators and emergency research huts are also available to support the team, which includes meteorologists and marine biologists, until the relief vessel arrives.
