Stories for April 2013

Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 22:59 UTC
Chilean navy tugboat checking Antarctica area where Chinese factory ship went down

A tugboat from the Chilean Navy equipped for environmental emergencies is trying to determine the position where the remains of the Chinese factory ship Kai Xin went down in Antarctica last week after catching fire and left adrift by the 97 member crew rescued by a Norwegian vessel and a reefer.
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 21:00 UTC
UK Ministry of Defence deems wind towers a national security threat

By John C.K. Daly of Oilprice.com - Twenty-plus years on, the collapse of the USSR in 1991 threatened massive Western defence budgets, bereft of a major enemy like the “Evil Empire.”
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 19:03 UTC
Falklands’ companies receive ‘Superior Taste Award’ for Islands’ squid in Brussels seafood fair

Two Falkland Islands fishing companies were awarded in Brussels last week the Superior Taste Award which was extended to Marfrío a Spanish processing company that works with Patagonian squid caught in the Islands waters.
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 09:53 UTC
Holland has a king for the first time since 1890 and Argentina Queen Maxima

King Willem-Alexander became the first Dutch male monarch in more than a century Tuesday as his mother Beatrix abdicated to end a 33-year reign. His popular Argentine born wife became Queen Maxima.
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 09:09 UTC
Chile considers IAATO meeting a great success; many operators looking to work from Magallanes

The Chilean government efforts to develop Puerto Williams in the extreme south of the country as an austral tourism centre and gateway to Antarctica received an ‘excellent’ feedback from the recent IAATO annual meeting held in Punta Arenas.
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 07:22 UTC
Argentine and Chilean ports publish book to promote cruise visits to Patagonia

Five Argentine and Chilean Patagonia ports have teamed up to promote their tourism attractions and potential for the cruise industry by launching a hardcover limited edition book (1.000), in English and Spanish, with digital support under the heading of “Patagonia, cruises destination”.
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 07:18 UTC
Antarctica received an estimated 35.000 visitors this 2012/13 season, says IAATO

An estimated 35.000 visitors enjoyed the pristine landscape of Antarctica during this last 2012/13 season, which represents a 32% increase over the previous period, according to IAATO, (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators) and is responsible for 90% or these tours.
Tuesday, April 30th 2013 - 06:44 UTC
Antarctica and Punta Arenas historic links underlined in Chilean tourist guide

A complete Antarctica tourist guide, in English and Spanish was launched by the Chilean Antarctic Institute to promote the polar identity and heritage of over fifty sites in the Punta Arenas area, extreme south of Chile and the Magellan strait.
Monday, April 29th 2013 - 23:22 UTC
US dollar in Argentina drops a few cents on Monday trading but remains volatile

The ‘parallel’ or ‘blue’ dollar in Argentina which last week soared day after day to reach on Friday a record 9.30 Pesos, on Monday edged down four cents to 9.26 Pesos while the official ‘dollar’ remained stable at 5.13 and 5.19 Pesos (buying and selling).
Monday, April 29th 2013 - 23:17 UTC
Argentine government considering options to contain the ‘parallel’ dollar

The Argentine government is considering different options to contain the current skyrocketing of the US dollar, but according to the financial media there are different positions in the cabinet of President Cristina Fernandez. One of those calls for direct interventions while the other adopts a more passive attitude saying the issue is speculative and ‘marginal’.