MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Air carrier USS Nimitz in Cape Horn.

One of the world's largest vessels, United States Navy nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz last weekend sailed past Cape Horn en route to its base in San Diego, California.

According to a Chilean Navy report from Punta Arenas the air carrier was traveling at a cruise speed of almost twenty knots.

The USS Nimitz with a 327 meters long deck and 85 aircraft, left Norfolk, Virginia, in mid September where it underwent extensive overhauling and will be joining the US Seventh Fleet.

But the trip so far has not been without surprises.

While sailing along the Uruguayan Atlantic coast, USS Nimitz invited several Uruguayan legislators and the Deputy Defense Minister to visit the super carrier and formidable weapon of the US arsenal.

However, crosswinds when the US Navy aircraft transporting the Uruguayan delegation was approaching the deck almost turned the landing into a tragedy. One of the aircraft wings touched the deck and the main retention cable was unable to hold the aircraft that finally was caught by a second steel cable. The aircraft ended cliff-hanging from the deck side and passengers and crew were forced to climb out covered in fire extinction foam.

Once the visit was over several hours later, the delegation had to be flown back by helicopter since the stranded aircraft was the only air transport of its kind.

Meantime an F 18 fighter bomber had to remain overnight in a Uruguayan Navy base because the carrier's deck was not cleared and ready until the following day.

"Yes, when we realized how serious the situation was and we were hanging over the sea in the middle of the Atlantic, we became very scared, but you should of seen the faces of the pilot and crew?", remarked Mr. Carlos Giavarone, Uruguay's Deputy Defense Minister once back and standing on Uruguayan soil.

Europe lifts ban to Uruguayan beef.

Uruguay is entitled to resume beef , mutton and lamb sales to the European Union as of next November following last week's decision by the E.U. Standing Veterinary Committee in Brussels.

Uruguayan beef was banned in Europe because an outbreak of foot and mouth disease that began in late 2000 and spread to several Mercosur members, finally struck the country last April.

Uruguayan officials hailed the European decision which should help the beef industry gradually begin to recover after six months of almost complete lack of activity.

The blow