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The recent sinking of a cruise ship in Antarctic waters has prompted MetService to extend regular forecasts to the Antarctic ice edge.
MetService meteorologists will now issue regular marine weather forecasts and warnings for the sub-Antarctic.
Chief of national weather services Rod Stainer said the forecasts extended their coverage across the open seas of the Southern Ocean between Australia and the eastern part of the Pacific.
"They will help the increasing number of vessels that are now visiting this area to avoid the worst of the weather," he said.
Last month the MS Explorer, an adventure travel ship on a 19-day trip around Antarctica, hit an iceberg forcing its 154 passengers and crew into lifeboats in the middle of the night.
They waited more than three hours in unusually calm, icy waters, until they were rescued by a Norwegian cruise ship.
The sinking highlights the potential dangers in a boom in adventure tourism, Mr Stainer said.
"It is timely that we are extending our forecasts to cover these frigid waters."
Maritime New Zealand deputy director of safety and response services Peter Williams said having up-to-date weather forecasts was an important tool for all skippers and would assist in its own search and rescue work.
"Both the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic can be harsh and unforgiving environments, and any information which helps masters in their decision-making and improves safety is welcomed by Maritime New Zealand," he said.
- NZPA
