MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Russian icebreaker supplying Argentine Antarctic bases

Icebreaker Vasili Golovnin

The Russian icebreaker Vasili Golovnin contracted by the Argentine government to help with this year's Antarctic season is currently supplying fuel to Argentina's permanent base Marambio in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Marambio, located at 64 S and 56 W, has a 1.200 meters runway and acts as a logistics hub for Argentina's Antarctic effort. Vasili Golovnin according to Argentine Antarctic Institute authorities is transporting a million liters of fuel, mainly Antarctic diesel and JP1 aviation fuel, which has to be unloaded by helicopter. Since February first the Russian helicopter has completed at least 72 flights. The operation is scheduled to be finished by February 8. The Russian icebreaker which is replacing Argentina's Almirante Irizar that suffered a serious accident at the end of the 2006/07 season is also scheduled to call with supplies at the San Martin and Esperanza bases. Besides the chartered Russian icebreaker Argentina has several other vessels involved in the 2007/08 Antarctic season. They include ARA Castillo which supplied the Primavera, Brown and Cámara stations; ARA "Canal de Beagle" a Navy support vessel currently in Ushuaia; logistics support ARA Patagonia which returned to Puerto Belgrano on January 28. Air support to other bases and stations is done with Argentine Air Force Hercules C130, reports the Argentine Antarctic Institute.