he ARA icebreaker “Almirante Irízar”, after having carried out logistical tasks at the Orcadas Joint Antarctic Base, continued its course and arrived at Caleta Potter, where it anchored in front of the Carlini Scientific Antarctic Base. Once there, by means of personnel and vehicle transport vessels, she began unloading Antarctic diesel oil (GOA), dry, fresh and refrigerated supplies; propane gas tubes and 2 diesel generator engines.
Once the unloading was completed and as usual, the withdrawal of part of the Antarctic waste generated so far also began. At night, the unit sailed towards Rada Petrel, where it arrived on Tuesday the 9th, to continue with the supply tasks. At the Joint Antarctic Base (BAC) Petrel, which became permanent again after 50 years, in addition to fuel, supplies and materials, the crew that will carry out the winter season corresponding to 2023/24 was replaced.
To collaborate with the unloading and receive the transfer of loads to the temporary bases Brown and Decepción from the icebreaker, on Tuesday morning the ARA “Bahía Agradable” notice was sponsored, dependent on the Maritime Patrol Division based at the Naval Base of Mar del Plata. The unit, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Martín Ignacio Villalba, is one of the units participating in this 2023/24 Antarctic Summer Campaign.
On Wednesday afternoon, the work was delayed due to hydrometeorological reasons and an extreme drop in the tide, so the effort was focused on the transfer of loads to the ARA “Bahía Agradable” notice, which included a Unimog vehicle, which will be deployed in Esperanza Antarctic Base. During the early hours of the morning, the planned downloads at the EDPV continued.
Once the logistical support at the BAC Petrel is completed in the coming days, the unit plans to go to the Esperanza Antarctic Base, the only Argentine base where military personnel live with their families, to carry out the tasks of resupply and deployment of the members of the incoming staff; in this first stage without their families, who will arrive during the end of the Antarctic Summer Campaign.