Argentina begins a new Antarctic campaign with the departure of icebreaker Irízar

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Argentina officially started the 118th Antarctic Summer Campaign (CAV) 2021/2022 with the departure on January 11 of the icebreaker ARA Almirante Irízar from the Buenos Aires Naval Station. Thus, the ship began the first of the three stages to allow the provisioning, waste collection, and crew relief of all the Argentine Antarctic bases. This new edition will involve 1,085 people, four ships, and seven aircraft.

In a ceremony attended by military authorities and some government officials, the Minister of Defense, Jorge Taiana, explained the importance of the mission: “From very early on our country understood the importance of Antarctica, that is why we are founding members of the Antarctic Treaty, and we have had a permanent and uninterrupted presence there since 1904. We are aware of the importance of the scientific development carried out and of the fundamental task of the icebreaker Irízar in this sense”.

As a novelty for this edition, the minister highlighted the reopening as a permanent base of Petrel, after almost half a century, following its reconstruction. “This decision seeks to achieve a greater presence on the white continent and a better scientific development, key for the future generations of our country,” Taiana pointed out.

Admiral Irízar set sail from Buenos Aires to undertake this new mission coordinated by the Joint Antarctic Command (Cocoantar), under the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, under a strict health protocol due to the pandemic. The planned itinerary of the Irízar with 285 people on board starts today from the Port of Buenos Aires and will last until May 1, with its arrival at this station.

DETAILS OF THE CAV 2021/2022 MISSION

In this new edition of the Antarctic campaign, 1,085 people will participate, including military and scientific personnel and 15 minors from the Esperanza base, where the President Dr. Ricardo Alfonsín School will be reopened.

While the mission of the Irízar is divided into three stages that will allow the provisioning and replacement of the crews of all the bases that Argentina has in operation: seven permanent bases (Esperanza, Marambio, San Martín, Orcadas, Carlini, Belgrano II, and Petrel); and four transitory ones, that is, active only during the summer period (Matienzo, Brown, Decepción, and Primavera). During the first instance, the Orcadas and Belgrano II bases, the southernmost in the country and the third permanent base in the world, respectively, will be supplied.

The replacement of the crews and the replenishment with provisions, fuels, and supplies of all the national bases includes the withdrawal of historical waste within the 2020/24 Plan framework.

The first stage consists of the recovery of Petrel’s housing capacities, its main and emergency house, and the hangar, in addition to carrying out environmental impact and feasibility studies for the construction of a pier and runways.

During these months of work, logistical support for all national and international scientific activities will continue, and progress will be made with the Naval Hydrographic Service (SHN) in the recovery of beaconing to aid navigation.

FOUR SHIPS, FOUR HELICOPTERS, AND THREE AIRPLANES DEPLOYED IN THE CAMPAIGN

In addition to the Irízar, three other ships will be deployed: the ARA Puerto Argentino, which began its campaign on January 4, the transport ARA Canal Beagle, and the ARA Bahía Agradable, which also performs duties in the Combined Naval Antarctic Patrol (PANC) with the Chilean Navy.

Four helicopters will also be deployed: two heavy Sea King helicopters will be embarked on the icebreaker, and two Bell helicopters will be stationed during the year in Marambio. Finally, three aircraft will also be part of the mission: two Hercules C-130 to develop the Antarctic air logistics lines and a Boeing 737 for the deployment and withdrawal of personnel and material from the port of Ushuaia.

ARGENTINA PRESENTED THE ARGENTINE ANTARCTIC ANNUAL PLAN 2021-2022 (PAA)

According to a statement from the Ministry, “the development of this 118th Antarctic Summer Campaign is part of the policy of strengthening the Antarctic presence to safeguard the sovereignty and interests of our country on the white continent”.

This phrase and the beginning of this new campaign coincides with the presentation last Monday of the Argentine Antarctic Annual Plan 2021-2022 (PAA), a document that contains all the activities to be developed in the Argentine Antarctic sector during the current campaign from November 1, 2021, to October 31 of this year. In it, “more than 50 scientific-technical projects are developed to allow a complete knowledge of the particular Antarctic environment”, assured the Secretary of Malvinas, Antarctica, and South Atlantic, Guillermo Carmona.

For this reason, at the inauguration of the Antarctic mission, the head of the military portfolio emphasized that the campaign also aims to protect the country’s economic interests: “Argentina has to strengthen its projection to the sea, to defend its renewable and non-renewable natural resources throughout its territory. We must have the perspective of an Argentina that looks towards the South Atlantic, towards the Islands, towards Antarctica with a bi-continental vision. This strategic vision will be the axis for exercising our sovereign rights and the future of sustainable development for the country”.