MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina: funds available to repair Navy's icebreaker

Irizar on fire a year ago

Argentine Defence minister Nilda Garré announced on Monday that the funds to begin repairs on the Navy's ice breaker Almirante Irizar, ravaged by fire last April, have been made available following the completion of a survey on the extent of the damages suffered.

Addressing the Argentine Navy's top brass and military formations on the 151st anniversary of Admiral Guillermo Brown considered the founder of the country's navy, Ms Garre said that repairs on the Almirante Irizar, which is the backbone of Argentina's Antarctic operations, would begin in the coming months. Although no more details were made public at the Puerto Belgrano ceremony, the Argentine press reported that Ark Yards from Norway and Finnish experts (Almirante Irizar was built in Finland) had made an extensive survey of the damages suffered by the vessel and according to the final report the operation would involve 500 million Argentine pesos and 30 months. Garré also said she shared the Navy's concern with the "sustained disinvestment in equipment and material" and announced the incorporation to this year's budget of 50 million US dollars which are to be specifically applied to "the training of personnel and the recovery of equipment". The minister only made a brief reference to the human rights violations cases. "The past renders accounts and on that path Justice will continue to advance". However the Navy "has shown and has materialized its commitment with this historic process" she underlined. Almirante Irizar, which suffered extensive fire damage in most of its infrastructure when she was sailing in the South Atlantic at the end of the Antarctic 2006/07 season, remains docked in Puerto Belgrano. Argentina this season was forced to charter for a few weeks a Russian icebreaker and air support from private companies to supply its Antarctic bases and stations.