Argentina ignores for another year the US ship Stone in its patrol of the South Atlantic

The Argentine Government, as in 2021, has paid little or no attention to the passage through the region of the US Coast Guard ship USCGC Stone, which docked at the Piedra Buena dock in Puerto Madryn, with the sole purpose of refueling and supplying drinking water for the crew.

This year 2023, asin 2021, within the framework of Operation Southern Cross, the US vessel i on patrol in South America, which has led it to visit different countries in the region to strengthen ties with the different naval forces of the continent and to counteract illicit maritime activities, such as poaching and unreported fishing, a common problem among South American states.

Recently, the Stone was in Brazil intending to improve mutual capabilities.

Two years ago, the Argentine Foreign Ministry rejected the realization of a joint operation between the Prefectura Naval and the Coast Guard vessel to combat illegal fishing, alleging that the surveillance of the Argentine economic zone would be carried out only with its means and personnel.

After this announcement, days later, the US Embassy in Buenos Aires informed that the vessel would not dock in the port of Mar del Plata, as originally planned, due to alleged logistical challenges that prevented the mooring.

On this occasion, the US vessel also avoided the port of Mar del Plata.

USCGC STONE

The USCGC Stone is one of the newest Legend class coast guard vessels owned by the USCG, delivered by Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The ship’s homeport is Charleston, South Carolina, where it accompanies the USCGC Hamilton and USCGC James.

This type of ship is 127 meters long, 16.5 meters wide, and displaces 4,500 tonnes with a full load; it achieves a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, and an endurance of 60 days, with a crew of about 120.

It has automated weapons systems, large flight deck, chemical, biological, orto refuel and provide the crew with drinking waterh drinking waternd provide enhanced maritime domain awareness.

With information from Infodefensa