As part of one of the most important projects to consolidate Argentina's presence in Antarctica, personnel from the Tandanor shipyard, together with the Joint Antarctic Command (COCOANTAR), are making progress on the construction of the new modules for the Petrel Joint Antarctic Base . This facility is being developed on Dundee Island as part of a Ministry of Defense initiative aimed at strengthening Antarctic infrastructure and optimizing operational capabilities.
The assembly of the structure is the responsibility of COCOANTAR , while Tandanor supervises the installation to ensure its correct execution in accordance with the plans and technical specifications. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the coordinated work has allowed for sustained progress in the installation of the modules, which together will cover an area of 840 square meters.
The shipyard played a key role in the structure's manufacture and, prior to the start of the 2024/25 Antarctic Summer Campaign (CAV), trained COCOANTAR personnel in the assembly of the components. The training, carried out at the Tandanor facilities, focused on the assembly of Module 1 , a key element in the next stage of the project.
This new infrastructure aims to promote scientific research and improve logistical services in the region. It will have appropriate facilities for housing research personnel on Dundee Island and for those transiting to other parts of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The assembly of Petrel is one of the milestones of the 2024/2025 Antarctic Campaign. In an exclusive interview with Zona Militar, the commander of the Joint Antarctic Command, Navy Commodore Maximiliano Mangiaterra , highlighted the importance of the logistics vessel ARA Patagonia (B-1), which joined the campaign after years of inactivity. Regarding the role of the ARA Patagonia, Mangiaterra stated that the vessel "joined as a tanker to assist with everything related to the logistics bridge, especially liquid cargo, which is the fuel for ships, the Antarctic, and aviation. Also a particularity, which is to carry the structures for the construction of the modules of the Petrel house project."
Work at Petrel Base is progressing according to schedule, with a priority focus on the construction of housing modules 1 and 2. Founded on February 22, 1967, as a permanent naval base, the base was evacuated in 1976 after a fire destroyed the main accommodations. In 2021, through Decree 809/2021 , the Executive Branch allocated additional funds for its reopening, allowing the resumption of infrastructure projects that continue to this day.
In addition to the construction progress, it is worth noting that the base's runway once again received fixed-wing aircraft flights. In June 2024, the Argentine Air Force operated a Saab 340-B transport aircraft for the first time, while the Argentine Navy's Naval Aviation Command (COAN) resumed fixed-wing aircraft operations in Antarctica last November after 51 years, conducting two flights with a TC-12B Huron aircraft from the Naval Surveillance Squadron. The last time the Argentine Navy operated this type of flight on the White Continent was between 1967 and 1972, when the former "Petrel Naval Air Station " was in operation.
