By Gonzalo Mary
The Ministers of Defense, Jorge Taiana, of Health, Carla Vizzoti, and of Science and Technology, Daniel Filmus, accompanied the Commander of the Antarctic Ensemble, Brigadier General Edgar Fernando Calandín, at the official closing ceremony of the Antarctic Summer Campaign 2022-2023 (CAV).
The ceremony was held on the flight deck of the icebreaker ARA Almirante Irízar (Q-5), moored at the Apostadero Naval Buenos Aires.
The campaign consisted of three stages:
- the first stage in the north of the peninsula, with the center of gravity at Marambio Base, while the ARA Estrecho San Carlos warning was in charge of camps and shelters in the same area;
- the second stage began in mid-January, with the resupply of Belgrano II Base and the opening of the temporary bases Brown, Primavera, Matienzo, Cámara, and Melchior;
- finally, the third stage began in mid-February with the supply of San Martín Base.
During the CAV, the manning of the bases was changed.
More than 1,000 people were deployed, including scientists and military personnel.
The usual replenishment of the bases and the waste evacuation were carried out.
The construction of three multidisciplinary laboratories began at Esperanza, San Martín, and Orcadas bases.
The development of the Petrel Joint Antarctic Base, the CONAE Project at Belgrano II Base, and the seismology project at Decepción Base.
The installation of two multidisciplinary shelters near Marambio Base on Cerro Nevado Island and Vega Island and the last stage of implementing the defense satellite system will continue.
The commander of the Antarctic Ensemble, Edgar Calandín, commented that “in this campaign, projects of seven ministries, more than 30 state agencies, seven universities and logistic support to four Latin American countries have been carried out, not to mention the accumulation of institutions that make up the Argentine Antarctic Institute”.
The Minister of Defense said, “Antarctica has a value and a strategic sense; it is part of the Argentina of the 21st century; it is part of the wealth and strength that we have as a country”.
Also present were the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Juan Martín Paleo; the Chief of the General Staff of the Navy, Admiral Julio Horacio Guardia; and the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Guillermo Olegario Pereda.
DEPLOYMENT
In addition to the ARA Almirante Irízar, the ARA Puerto Argentino, which was with the Combined Naval Antarctic Patrol (PANC), and the ARA Estrecho de San Carlos, the transport ARA Canal Beagle, Hercules C-130 aircraft in charge of the airlift, two Bell 212 helicopters, permanently deployed in Marambio, and two Sea King which were embarked in the ARA Almirante Irizar.
The two modernized Sikorsky S-61T Triton helicopters acquired by the Argentine Navy from the American company Carson Helicopters Inc. were not deployed, as announced by Taiana.
At the beginning of the campaign, Calandín told Infodefensa.com, “I support the Navy’s decision. People know them well; they know their limitations and capabilities.”
“The execution of the operations does not allow us to test or train in the middle of the campaign”.
ANTARCTIC LABORATORIES
With the support of the personnel of the 601st Engineer Group of the Argentine Army, the installation, assembly, and conditioning works of the Multidisciplinary Antarctic Laboratories (LAM) began.
The laboratories, 120 square meters each, will be equipped with wet, dry, washing, and drying areas for samples and a sector for launching ozone measurement balloons, among other features.
They have been entirely designed by personnel from the Army Engineering Directorate and the Joint Antarctic Command (Cocoantar), with high sustainability standards.
These laboratories are being built as part of the Construir Ciencia program, with an investment of $260 million pesos (US$1.1 million at official prices).
Filmus told Infodefensa.com that the laboratory at the Esperanza Base is already operational, while those at the San Martín and Orcadas bases are being completed.
On the other hand, he commented that the tender for the acquisition of the equipment for the oceanographic observatory announced in December 2021, which will be located on the icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar, has already been carried out.
An initial investment of $50 million pesos (US$220,000 at the official quotation) was made.
At the time of the announcement, the eight laboratories were expected to be assembled within 24 months, with the possibility of extension.
INFODEFENSA IN ANTARCTICA
With the formal start of the CAV 2022-2023, Infodefensa.com had the privilege of crossing to the Marambio Base thanks to the invitation of Cocoantar.
During our visit, we talked with members of the different work teams that allow the base to operate in the adverse conditions of Antarctica.
With information from Infodefensa
News Argentina, English news Argentina, Antarctic Summer Campaign (CAV)
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