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HMS Glasgow visits Punta Arenas; Next June Aerolineas begins operations in Chile.; Cape Horn cruise from Ushuaia.

HMS Glasgow visits Punta Arenas

British Navy destroyer HMS Glasgow under the command of Captain Michael Wainhouse arrived Thursday in Punta Arenas from the Falkland Islands for a rest and recovery period, reports the local newspaper La Prensa Austral. HMS Glasgow D88 is currently responsible for the Royal Navy's South Atlantic Patrol. The Batch 1 Type 42 destroyer has a 4,820 tons displacement, is 125 metres long and can reach 30 knots speed. La Prensa Austral indicated she carries a crew of 287 including 35 women. HMS Glasgow will be leaving Punta Arenas this Saturday and its future schedule includes Uruguay, Brazil, Africa and back to Portmouth. According to the Royal Navy portal the Atlantic Patrol (South) is the standing naval commitment to provide a Frigate or Destroyer and an RFA support vessel to the South Atlantic and West African regions (currently Gold Rover). Additionally, the Falkland Islands Patrol ship, normally a Castle class vessel, is permanently stationed in the region (HMS Leeds Castle) HMS Endurance is also involved for half the year as the Ice Patrol Ship off Antarctica. The Atlantic Patrol Task (South) [APT(S)] ship provides a maritime presence to protect the UK's interests in the region. It is a reassurance to UK Overseas Territories, Commonwealth countries and other friendly nations, and acts as a deterrent to potential aggressors who may wish to threaten UK nationals, territory or interests. The Task Group is responsible for maintaining British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, including South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It is supplemented, on occasion, by a nuclear attack submarine. A Destroyer or Frigate is present in the Falkland Islands area for the majority of the year - including throughout the southern winter - and is at a maximum of 14 days notice from the Islands for the rest of the year.

Next June Aerolíneas begins operations in Chile.

Under the name of Aerolíneas del Sur, Spanish owned Aerolíneas Argentinas will begin operating domestically in Chile, including Punta Arenas, the last week of June according to the Argentine press. Apparently Aerolíneas del Sur will have a fleet of four Boeing 737-300 for domestic flights and two 747-200 to cover the Santiago-Buenos Aires-Madrid route. The Argentine press indicates that Aerolíneas del Sur already has decided on four destinations in the Chilean domestic market: Iquique, Antofagasta, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas, "with a fifth further on". Aerolíneas Argentinas CEO Antonio Mata Ramallo will be making the official announcement during the coming Santiago Air and Space Fair set to open April 1. However the inaugural flight is scheduled for the last week of June. Magallanes Region Deputy Zarko Luksic met with Aerolíneas Argentinas representative in Chile Gustavo Manss who confirmed the Spanish company's interest in operating in the Chilean domestic market particularly Punta Arenas to take advantage of the potential of both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia. In related news Varig suspended preliminary talks with Aerolíneas Argentinas for the sale of its 49% share of the Uruguayan flag carrier Pluna. Varig agreed to an "intention memorandum" with Aerolíneas Argentinas in exchange for an audit of Pluna with the purpose of deciding in sixty days if it would buy the company. However the second largest shareholder of Pluna with 48%, the Uruguayan government protested and rejected the auditing arguing that "it was not consulted about the sale proposal" nor "was it willing to provide confidential information about Pluna to a competitor that besides has no obligation of finally closing the deal". "The most we will provide is the balance sheet which anyway is public and the market is well aware of" said Jorge Neves General Manager of Pluna S.A.

Cape Horn cruise from Ushuaia.

The Chilean cruise "Mare Australis" has organized three special cruises during next May to Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel leaving from Ushuaia. The four days cruise will take place May 17, 24 and 29 leaving Ushuaia and visiting Cape Horn, Orange bay, Garibaldi fiord and the glacier Pia. Comapa Sales Manager Mario Bravo said that "Cape Horn is the most demanded place to visit in any extreme south cruise together with the Beagle Channel, so that's why we are providing these excellent opportunities". The cost of the cruise is 490 US dollars but for Punta Arenas residents the package begins a day before with a bus trip to Ushuaia and a city tour. Mr. Bravo added that similar cruises are programmed for the next season beginning September 14, 17 and 20. Branko Ivelic, CEO of Australis Cruises said that the idea of the May and September cruises is to prolong the season and take advantage of our infrastructure and growing regional demand. So far this season "Mare Australis" has completed 24 of the 33 trips programmed covering the Punta Arenas-Puerto Williams-Ushuaia-Punta Arenas itinerary. "With Cape Horn we're attempting to balance the circuit combining all the attractions of the area, and responding to a growing demand", explained Mr. Ivelic. Regarding the outgoing season, Mr. Ivelic said primary figures indicate that "Mare Australis" carried over 4,000 tourists until the first week of March, "this represents a 10% increase in the number of visitors over last season and mostly Europeans". During the off season period "Mare Australis" will be in Valdivia for maintenance work.