The Minister of Defense, Jorge Taiana , and the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Juan Martín Paleo, presided last Wednesday the 15th, the start ceremony of the 120th Antarctic Summer Campaign (CAV) 2023/2024 , which took place at the Station in the city of Buenos Aires, where the ARA Icebreaker “Almirante Irízar” is moored.
The ship will begin loading to supply the thirteen Antarctic bases, will move the structures for the construction of the house at the Petrel Joint Base and will take on board the two new Sea King helicopters, recently acquired through the National Defense Fund (FONDEF). ).
The Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa, also participated in the event; the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Daniel Filmus ; the Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Guillermo Pereda ; the Chief of the Navy, Admiral Julio Guardia ; the Deputy Chief of the Air Force, Brigadier Major Hugo Schaub ; and the Joint Antarctic Commander, Brigadier General Edgar Calandin .
“The Antarctic task has been and is fundamental for Argentina, which is a bicontinental country, which recognizes the growing importance of the South Atlantic for its renewable and non-renewable natural wealth and for its strategic value ,” highlighted Minister Taiana .
For his part, Brigadier General Calandin expressed: “This management has been characterized by establishing the institutional, physical and social foundations of the Antarctic program, expanding the presence of the State and consolidating a master plan of evolution that after four years has achieved all the objectives" .
The icebreaker will operate for 120 days, during which it will supply food, fuel and materials to the thirteen Antarctic bases, deploy the scientists and on-board personnel and move the structures for the construction of the new Petrel House, which later became a permanent base again. 50 years old.
The Irízar journey is divided into three stages that will allow the supply and relief of the crews of all the bases that Argentina keeps operational: seven permanent ones (Esperanza, Marambio, San Martín, Orcadas, Carlini, Belgrano II and Petrel) ; and six temporary , that is, active only during the summer period (Matienzo, Brown, Decepción, Primavera, Cámara and Melchior).
Among the objectives of this new CAV is the beginning of Phase II of the Petrel Development Plan, with the transfer of 190 tons of structures, 30 tons of columns and 54 tons of insulation for the construction of the new house. It is also foresees the construction of three new multidisciplinary laboratories at the Marambio and Carlini bases and one located on Isla de los Unidos, which complement the three already built at the Esperanza, Orcadas and San Martín Bases, in turn a new research center will be created. Cosmic Ray research at the San Martín Base.
Also, at the Belgrano II Base, work will continue on the installation of two CONAE antennas, the development of the Hydroponics project will be reinforced with support from INTA and work will be carried out on the construction of two shelters, one located at this base and the other in Esperanza. The progress in the construction of the green hydrogen laboratory at the Esperanza Base is also highlighted.
The CAV, in addition to redeploying personnel and supplying food and fuel, on the return trips to the continent the icebreaker Irízar will continue with the evacuation plan for historical waste.Most of the garbage generated in Antarctica must be removed in order to comply with the current Antarctic Treaty for environmental protection.
In addition to the ARA “Almirante Irízar” – the only ship with icebreaking, scientific, technological and logistics research capabilities in the region – and two other naval units will be used: the transport ARA “Canal Beagle” and the warning ARA “Estrecho Bahía Agradable” .