MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Antarctic naval exercise involving “grounded cruise”

In the framework of combined patrolling operations in Antarctic waters, the Argentine and Chilean navies participated last week in a contamination emergency exercise involving ARA “Suboficial Castillo” and the Chilean icebreaker “Almirante Oscar Viel”.

In the exercise the Argentine unit plays the role of a cruise vessel packed with tourists which runs aground, spilling fuel, undergoing flooding with several injured and begins sending emergency calls requesting help.

Chilean icebreaker "Almirante Viel" rapidly responds to the call and assumes control of salvage operations by first sending medical aid to assist and evacuate the wounded. The second step is to help with flooding and begin oil contamination containment operations setting up special barriers.

According to the Chilean Navy report in Punta Arenas the exercise in Fildes Bay proved the response capability of the icebreaker in helping to combat the fuel spill in particularly adverse climatic conditions in an area of great sensitivity for the Antarctic environment.

Next February 9, ARA "Suboficial Castillo" takes over duties from "Almirante Viel" as the main combined Antarctic patrol.