The Argentine Armed Forces have concluded the first stage of the Antarctic Summer Campaign (CAV) 2022-2023, which had the north of the Antarctic peninsula as its center of gravity, where both the resupply of the bases and the removal of waste were carried out.
During this first phase, members of the National Antarctic Directorate (DNA), the National Meteorological Service (SMN) and the Naval Hydrographic Service (SHN) were also deployed to carry out field activities.
The icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar, with two Sea Kings on board, the signs ARA Estrecho de San Carlos and ARA Puerto Argentino, two Bell 212 deployed at Base Marambio and the Hercules that make the airlift with the continent.
ORCADAS BASE
In Scotia Bay, Irizar landed the EDPV ARA Corbeta Uruguay launch, which together with two semi-rigid boats and the work of the beach group resupplied the Orcadas Base.
“The logistical tasks were carried out satisfactorily, the naval personnel involved fully met the Command’s expectations, and all the effort made during the year in training the crew and preparing the material can already be seen in operations, consolidating as a solid team between the different operational groups. I am very satisfied with the performance of the icebreaker in this first resupplied base”, said the commander of the icebreaker, captain Carlos Recio.
PETREL BASE
Subsequently, the Irizar docked off Dundee Island, where the Petrel Base is located, and after almost 24 uninterrupted hours of work, refueling, dry food, frozen food, construction materials and general cargo were carried out. In turn, scientists from the National Meteorological Service (SNM) carried out geomagnetism studies in order to monitor the Earth’s magnetic field.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Defense recently signed an agreement with the Tandanor shipyard to carry out the reconstruction of the residential house that will have a self-sustaining design. It will have a surface area of more than 1,920 m2 and capacity for 140 people, 60 people from the permanent staff and 80 who are in transit.
The facilities will have an infirmary, an office, dental care, an X-ray room, a shock room, hospitalization rooms and a pharmacy; kitchen, bakery, multipurpose gym and a radio station for satellite and computer communications.
The construction of a photovoltaic panel field at the base is planned for next year.
MARAMBIO BASE
With the help of the two Sea Kings, they worked for a week to resupply it with food, general cargo, fuel, construction materials, and machinery.
In turn, the withdrawal of Antarctic waste was carried out, one of the main objectives for the current year.
The crews, work groups and scientists from the Esperanza and Petrel joint Antarctic bases were received, and they will be deployed in the coming days.
ESPERANZA BASE
The activities continued with the resupply of the Esperanza Base, where the scientific and military personnel who carried out the last wintering were also withdrawn.
Due to the hydrometeorological conditions, the unloading was interrupted, so the ship went to the Marambio Base to advance the unloading of personnel and material there. From there the personnel are transferred by air to the mainland.
On this occasion, Recio, referring to the personnel in charge of replenishment, said: “The effort and dedication of the men and women who operate both on the ship and on the coast receiving the material that comes from the ship is admirable. In these latitudes work is done day and night with temperatures below zero, snow and winds that require vocation, experience and physical and mental effort, essential virtues of military personnel”.
At the moment, the icebreaker is heading towards the Carlini Base. With the arrival of the ships at the port of Ushuaia, where they will refuel, the first stage will end.
There they will be joined by the ARA Canal Beagle Transport, which goes from Buenos Aires loaded with supplies, to then set sail again for the white continent, thus beginning the second stage.
The second stage includes, among other tasks, the resupply of the Belgrano II Base and the opening of temporary bases Brown, Primavera, Matienzo, Cámara and Melchior.
With information from Infodefensa