The Tandanor shipyard and the Joint Antarctic Command are making progress in the construction of the Joint Antarctic Base (BAC) Petrel and the modular hospital that will be the first of its kind on the white continent . The construction represents an improvement in logistics for flights, unlike the access complications at the Marambio Base.
At Petrel, the medical unit is expected to begin assembly in February 2025 , with the entire base project having an estimated completion date between 2030 and 2031 .
The construction of the BAC Petrel and the modular hospital are the first concrete steps of Javier Milei's government regarding Antarctic policy . However, the Argentine president's political alignment with the US and NATO raises doubts about the defense of Argentine sovereignty . It is worth noting that, in April 2024 , Javier Milei visited Tierra del Fuego to receive General Laura Richardson, commander of the North American Southern Command.
There he announced the development of a Naval Base in Ushuaia with support from the United States , which generated media repercussions to such an extent that the president's statements were minimized by the North American authorities .
The first hospital on the white continent
Work is currently underway to assemble the sturdy structure of the residential module, which will have a capacity to accommodate 60 permanent residents and 150 people in the summer .
The sanitary module is built to withstand severe conditions , such as temperatures reaching -30°C , winds of up to 300 km/h , snow accumulations of up to 60 cm , and magnetic storms .
Recently, a training day was held at the Tandanor shipyard facilities, aimed at the staff of the Joint Antarctic Command (COCOANTAR). A meeting that focused on the technical procedures necessary for the assembly of Module 1 , known as the Work Module , which will be installed on Dundee Island .
The process of transferring these structures , which includes 70 tons of steel , will be carried out in the coming months by ships assigned to the Antarctic Summer Campaign (CAV) 2024-2025 .
The Antarctic Joint Hospital will not only provide medical assistance to the staff at Petrel Base , but will also serve as a support center for patients from other Antarctic bases .
It will have a medical and dental office for outpatient care ; an intermediate care hospital with a capacity of 8 beds ; an operating room ; a shock room ; and an intensive care unit.
It will also have diagnostic imaging services (Rx) , laboratory, hyperbaric chamber, sterilization, pharmacy and the support services necessary for its operation.
Until now, medical care in the region has been limited to infirmaries and medium-complexity clinics , which raises the need to evacuate critically ill patients to the mainland . This situation can be risky , especially in extreme weather conditions .
The new hospital will allow specialists to be transferred from the mainland without compromising the stability of patients, thereby reducing the risks associated with evacuations . In addition, the hospital is expected to improve the capacity of medical response in the Antarctic environment , where every minute counts.
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