On March 22, icebreaker ARA “Almirante Irízar” (RHAI) set sail once again for the white continent. During the third stage of the Summer Antarctic Campaign (CAV), it will call at the Joint Antarctic Bases (BAC) Esperanza, San Martín, and Petrel.
“Irizar” cast off with 312 crew members, including the families who will spend the winter at Esperanza Base. This required logistical efforts by the ship’s crew, who had to create living conditions for 17 children between the ages of 4 and 18.
The start of this phase was achieved thanks to the logistical bridge provided by the ARA “Patagonia,” which departed from Puerto Belgrano Naval Base on March 9. “The ship’s arrival in Ushuaia is an achievement that makes me very proud. First, because of what it means for the Navy to regain this logistical capability, and second, because of the work of my personnel who rose to every challenge the unit presented us during the voyage,” explained the Commander of the “Patagonia,” Frigate Captain Cristian Carrizo.
After six days at sea, the logistics unit arrived in Ushuaia, where it partnered with the RHAI to transfer cargo. The combined efforts of the crews of both units were instrumental in this maneuver. For 24 hours, they moved materials, fuel drums, and supplies from one hold to another. Cranes were also used to move mobile containers and larger loads.
For this new leg of the voyage, 48 tons of dry provisions and refrigerated cargo were loaded; 50 tons of materials for general maintenance and structural construction; and 157 drums of fuel and lubricants. 650 m³ of Antarctic diesel oil (GOA) and 16 m³ of JP1 were loaded.
The logistics vessel’s core function is fuel transport, so the fuel transfer maneuver was carried out over seven consecutive hours. Under the watchful eye and procedural supervision of qualified personnel, the icebreaker was refueled.
