MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Seven years and 650 million dollars later, Argentine icebreaker Irizar still under repairs
The Argentine government is putting pressure on contractors so that the Navy's flagship icebreaker Almirante Irizar, partially destroyed by fire in 2007, can begin sea trials later this year. However over-costs and mismanagement of the funds invested, estimated at over 650 million dollars, could have purchased a new vessel of three second hand according to critics in Congress. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesSeven years and US$ 650 million, is this a joke or are they serious? Why has nobody been made accountable, oh sorry, that is something that Argentina is not good at, making people accountable.
May 28th, 2014 - 10:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@ #1. From memory the chorus goes something like this “don't cry for me Argentina...”
May 28th, 2014 - 11:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0There are many adjectives to describe this debacle; the only good things it has happened to Argentina, in its own backyard and there is no one else to blame but Argentine mis-management and probably corruption. Long may this continue.
It's Bolivia + coast.
May 28th, 2014 - 11:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Over 1.2 million man hours and it is still not repaired, anyone got the address of the Guinness book of records?
May 29th, 2014 - 04:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0If you want to make big money in Argentina....you dont go into business....you go into government ! How much did the new British ice boat cost ? Jorge Lanata for President :-)
May 29th, 2014 - 05:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0Some mistake here - 533 million pesos at the official exchange rate is about 65 million dollars, not 650 million
May 29th, 2014 - 06:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0$65million or $650million, still ridiculous.
May 29th, 2014 - 08:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0What a shower of incompetent fools.(or are someone's hands being greased?)
l wouldn't trust them to butter the sandwiches at the local flower show.
Fire the lot of them!
@6 But which exchange rate did they use? And how often did they pay out US$60 million for Russian stuff? But, as Isolde says, what does it matter? According to argieland, it's money argieland doesn't have. If they had it, they could repay their debts and borrow more money honestly. Whoops, did I get the “concepts” of argieland and honesty in the same paragraph?
May 29th, 2014 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0Why do the electorate tolerate such incompetence and financial ineptitude?
May 29th, 2014 - 12:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0An enduring mystery.....
A possible toast to break the ice at the re commissioning ceremony
May 29th, 2014 - 01:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0BOTTOMS UP!
@9 Because the people can't do squat about it. No matter what the people do, the corrupt always win. And trust me, a lot has been tried before.
May 29th, 2014 - 04:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think you guys underestimate these clever un appreciated argy ship repairers.
May 29th, 2014 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0all they have to do is get the ship to float as far as the harbour entrance
and they would have achieved something great.
the first navy ship to float without sinking since the last one..lol
Christ the uk is buying a brand new science vessel for less than $400 million
May 29th, 2014 - 06:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0ah yes,
May 29th, 2014 - 07:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0but ours float.lol
For a would-be imperialist nation who claim the Antarctic, they're a bit slow in getting the means to conquer repaired.
May 29th, 2014 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Repairs have been completed 90%”
INDEC figure?
An icebreaker that cannot break ice
May 29th, 2014 - 09:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0!a raft of malfunctions have been detected in the repairs among which, and probably the most serious, the welding performed in the hull are not sufficiently resistant for icebreaking”
This is hugely embarrassing for Kristina.
May 30th, 2014 - 01:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0Good Luck with sucking up to Russia etc. Now you just look foolish.
When it's finished, it will probably be able to break enough ice for a decent cocktail!
May 30th, 2014 - 04:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0All her hot air, will just melt it all..lol
May 30th, 2014 - 06:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Serious question though.
May 30th, 2014 - 08:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As they have been leasing these ships from the Russians, crewed and navigated by Russians and as it has been so, so, so, so long since any of their own sailors navigated and crewed a vessel of this type down there.
Where, oh where in the Dell Shannon Navy (Run Run Run Way, previously known as the ARA) are they going to get a crew to man the latest vessel in their Blue Pamparse project?
This post would be ludicrous if it was not so fucking true!!M
A beautiful country, with all the resources anyone could desire, run by utter fuck-wits and a status quo accepted by a mojority passive population...
May 30th, 2014 - 09:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0tragi-comedy, but more tragic than comedic.
The numbers of Argentines in London is growing. I don't have any problem with this as only the intelligent, hard-working and brave come here. Eventually there will be a 'tipping-point', where London cannot accept anymore and/or Buenos Aires can't afford to lose anymore...
hmmm...
Serious 'Brain-Drain' in Argentina. Just makes the future look worse. Shame.
@21 ilsen,
May 30th, 2014 - 10:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Maybe the intelligent expat Argentines, in the UK could form an exile Army and, with our help, invade Argentina & restore the country to its former prosperity.
Like the 1900s.
@22 Isolde
May 31st, 2014 - 01:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Wow. That's quite a thought!
Personally I would love to see it, but unfortunately they are all too busy
studying for their future
providing for their families
raising their kids in a corrupt-free environment
earning money
participating in Society
paying tax
enjoying the culture, arts and parks etc
enjoying a peaceful secure life
Like Normal People!
Unfortunately for Argentina all their best and brightest will soon assimilate, never to return.
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