End of an era: This year may be the last time adventurers can voyage deep into the Antarctic to watch emperor penguins looking after their young in their natural habitat
Rocketing out of an icy ocean, huddling to keep their tiny chicks warm and sliding across the snow on their bellies, these are the cherished scenes of emperor penguins enjoying ice-covered Antarctica.
But for adventurers, this year may be the last time they can voyage deep into the region to watch the animals looking after their young in their natural habitat.
For several years the Kapitan Khlebnikov ship, leased to the American-owned Quark Expeditions, has been the only tourist vessel hardy enough to venture down to the remote spot.
But now the Russian-US agreement has ended and after this month's expedition, the ship will return to Russian hands to be used for research purposes.
Breath-taking views: Each October 100 lucky tourists were transported to Snow Hill Island to see the new-born chicks being cared for by their attentive parents at just two-months-old, after hatching in July and AugustThe development will see hundreds of future tourists potentially denied the breath-taking sights of emperor penguins in the wild.
Norwegian photographer Pel Hermansen, 55, from Oslo, who visited Snow Hill Island on board the 'Khlebnikov' two years ago, will now become one of the last tourists to have absorbed the Antarctic landscape unless a replacement icebreaker is found.
But at present there looks to be no such ship to take up the reins for the epic journey.
'The tourism in Antarctica has been increasing during the last few years and several companies are operating ships that visit the open sea areas at the Antarctic peninsula,' he said.
Cherished scenes: Rocketing out of an icy ocean, huddling to keep their tiny chicks warm and sliding across the snow on their bellies, these are the familiar sights of emperor penguins enjoying ice-covered Antarctica'While some ships are capable of penetrating areas with broken up ice covers, there has only been one real icebreaker providing tourist expeditions to the most remote and permanently ice-covered parts of the area.
'As the emperors place their colonies on solid sea ice, you need to go into the ice to reach them.
'True icebreakers are very few in the world, and very expensive to build. There simply do not exist suitable ships at the moment at a reasonable price, so Quark has had to stop all their extreme expeditions in the Arctic and the Antarctic after the summer season 2011.
'It means there won't be another chance in the foreseeable future for non-scientists to see the birthing period and chicks.
'The tourist activity is strongly regulated and the guides are very keen that the birds are not disturbed. There are no reported negative consequences of the tourism.
Hardy vessel: Now the Russian-US agreement has ended, the Kapitan Khlebnikov will return to Russian hands for research purposes. At present there looks to be no replacement ship to make trips to see the penguins
Natural environment: Emperor penguins and chicks wandering to an ice edge in the middle of a blizzard'Another big downside to this is that the life-lasting experience for a tourist and all the images and footage produced from these expeditions have contributed to much interest and respect for these fantastic creatures.'
Quark's lease of the Khlebnikov ends early next Summer, making this month's expedition the last, unless a replacement vessel is found.
Each October it transported 100 lucky tourists to Snow Hill Island, giving travellers a chance to see the new-born chicks being cared for by their attentive parents when they are about two-months-old.
Hatching typically takes place between mid-July and August.
A spokesman for Exodus travels, the British representatives for Quark Expeditions, said: 'The last trip to see the penguins is a 15-day voyage leaving on November 24.
'Due to this being the last trip to see the animals before the lease on the Kapitan Khlebnikov ends , it is fully booked.'
Ships in its class have a super-strong hull, high power and a special shape that allows them to plunge through ice-covered waters without sinking.
Proud parents: Emperor pengiuns care for their young on Snow Hill Island in the Weddell Sea, Antarcticasource :dailymail
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