MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hot News from Pta. Arenas.

Headlines:
Queen Mary II scheduled to call in Punta Arenas; Aquaculture courses; Torres del Paine park fire lasted 30 days.

Queen Mary II scheduled to call in Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas port authorities are assessing the operational and security challenges of the coming 2005/06 cruise season when the "Queen Mary II" and its almost 4,000 visitors and crew are scheduled to call in. The largest and fastest cruise in the world will be calling in Punta Arenas next February and will have to remain anchored in the bay. Actually only one port in Chile, Valparaiso has theoretically the facilities to enable the giant 150,000 tons, 345 metres long vessel to dock. Further more on the precise day "Queen Mary II" will be calling, another large cruise vessel is also scheduled meaning that Punta Arenas will be "invaded" by almost 6,000 visitors. "This is unequivocal evidence that cruise operators are targeting larger and larger vessels, and at some point we will have to address the technical, operational and security challenges of this trend", remarked Eduardo Manzanares, CEO of Empresa Portuaria Austral which manages Punta Arenas port. Mr. Manzanares last week participated in Miami in the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention, the industry's main annual gathering. Chilean authorities estimate that the "Queen Mary II" calls during the 2006 cruise season will represent almost 39 million US dollars for the regional economy, since 2,600 visitors are expected to come ashore in Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt and Valparaíso. "Queen Mary II" schedule begins in New York with calls in Barbados, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and finally, 38 days later, Los Angeles. The giant cruise vessel belongs to Carnival Corporation with annual sales in 2004 of 9,7 billion US dollars. Carnival Corporation manages a fleet of 77 cruise vessels, according to the Chilean press.

Aquaculture courses in Punta Arenas

A Technical School in Punta Arenas is offering aquaculture courses with the support from the Chilean Antarctic Institute, University of Magallanes and several local industries. This year's first class at the Liceo Tecnico Maria Bethey has twenty students who besides the normal curricula will be engaged in diving activities under instructors from the Chilean Navy. Headmaster Hugo Villegas said the new option has proved extremely popular "given the employment opportunities in the region's growing industry". "We still have some equipment difficulties but we have been promised support from several private companies from the aquaculture industry". Another big supporter of the initiative is the Chilean Antarctic Institute which has supplied tools, utensils, special suits which are used in Antarctica. "We believe that promoting Antarctica and Chile's interests in the region is essential and therefore our support to this effort which will open new work opportunities but also teach Magallanes students about Antarctica's incredible marine life", said Jose Retamales, head of the Chilean Antarctic Institute.

Torres del Paine park fire lasted 30 days

Last Friday, thirty days after the outbreak, the blaze which raged in Torres del Paine Park in Chilean Patagonia was officially considered extinguished although some patrols will remain in the outlook. "Last Friday and as a result of the continuous patrolling, in the interior and perimeter of the blaze, no activity was detected and therefore technically the fire which began February 17 has been declared extinguished", reported Marco Cordero, Regional Director of the Chilean Forestry Corporation. Mr. Cordero added that as of Saturday 18, at 08:30 hours all the personnel that were flown in to help with the fire was dismissed. At the height of the blaze over 500 people were involved including forestry volunteers from Argentine Patagonia. As to the total area under fire, Mr. Cordero revealed it reached 15,470 hectares, of which 11,685 belonging to the Park and 3,785 private holdings. Torres del Paine covers an area of grassland, bushes and native forests of 242,242 hectares. The total balance includes: 1,000 hectares of native low lying woodland; 357 hectares of full grown native woodland; 9,624 hectares of Patagonian steppe; 3.509 of bushes.; 13 hectares of swampy land and 360 hectares of water covered areas or barren land. Mr. Cordero also anticipated that in the coming week the different groups working on reports and proposals will be meeting to assess and draft a final paper that will address how to recover the different areas destroyed by the month long fire.