The icebreaker ARA "Almirante Irízar" (RHAI) completed resupply at the Joint Antarctic Base (BAC) Esperanza , one of the seven permanent bases that Argentina maintains on the white continent . This is one of the final stages of the 2024/25 Summer Antarctic Campaign.
The national vessel entered Esperanza Bay , located in the Antarctic Strait of the Antarctic Peninsula . The task was to unload the last shipments of general cargo and 120,000 liters of Antarctic fuel and was carried out with personnel landing craft , vehicles (EDPV) and MK6 semi-rigid boats .
With the replenishment in Esperanza completed, the ARA “Almirante Irízar” heads towards the Orcadas Base . Part of the incoming crew will prepare for wintering and will live for approximately one month with the outgoing team, who will be evacuated in the next phase of operations .
On the other hand, operations were carried out a few days ago at the Petrel and Decepción Bases. In this case, after finishing its tasks in Esperanza Bay , the ARA “Puerto Argentino” (AVPA) arrived in the area after having transported the crew that reopened the Decepción Base a few days ago.
There, both ships of the Argentine Navy worked on the transfer of various structures and construction materials destined to continue with the works in Petrel . Steel columns and trusses were placed on the deck of the AVPA , allowing the ship to then head towards Petrel to unload the necessary materials .