In this paper, which was presented to an Ordinary Meeting of the Institute held in London on 22 November 1978, Captain Woodfield, who was for nineteen years master of Royal Research Ships in support of British Antarctic Survey operations, discusses some of the problems of navigating in this ill-charted and ice-ridden area. The presentation was made jointly with Lieutenant Commander P. Le Pla, formerly Navigating Officer of the Ice Patrol Ship HMS Protector whose paper on Antarctic navigation was published in Vol. 31 of the Journal. The President was in the chair.