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Seven years and 650 million dollars later, Argentine icebreaker Irizar still under repairs

Wednesday, May 28th 2014 - 22:12 UTC
Full article 23 comments

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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  • golfcronie

    Seven 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
  • falklandlad

    @ #1. From memory the chorus goes something like this “don't cry for me Argentina...”
    There 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.

    May 28th, 2014 - 11:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    It's Bolivia + coast.

    May 28th, 2014 - 11:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Over 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 0
  • Viscount Falkland

    If 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 0
  • mollymauk

    Some 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
  • lsolde

    $65million or $650million, still ridiculous.
    What 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!

    May 29th, 2014 - 08:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @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 0
  • ilsen

    Why do the electorate tolerate such incompetence and financial ineptitude?

    An enduring mystery.....

    May 29th, 2014 - 12:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redp0ll

    A possible toast to break the ice at the re commissioning ceremony
    BOTTOMS UP!

    May 29th, 2014 - 01:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • MagnusMaster

    @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 0
  • Briton

    I think you guys underestimate these clever un appreciated argy ship repairers.

    all 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

    May 29th, 2014 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Martin Woodhead

    Christ the uk is buying a brand new science vessel for less than $400 million

    May 29th, 2014 - 06:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    ah yes,
    but ours float.lol

    May 29th, 2014 - 07:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    For a would-be imperialist nation who claim the Antarctic, they're a bit slow in getting the means to conquer repaired.

    “Repairs have been completed 90%”

    INDEC figure?

    May 29th, 2014 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Leiard

    An icebreaker that cannot break ice

    !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”

    May 29th, 2014 - 09:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    This is hugely embarrassing for Kristina.

    Good Luck with sucking up to Russia etc. Now you just look foolish.

    May 30th, 2014 - 01:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    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 0
  • Briton

    All her hot air, will just melt it all..lol

    May 30th, 2014 - 06:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Serious question though.

    As 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

    May 30th, 2014 - 08:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    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...

    tragi-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.

    May 30th, 2014 - 09:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • lsolde

    @21 ilsen,
    Maybe 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.

    May 30th, 2014 - 10:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    @22 Isolde
    Wow. 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.

    May 31st, 2014 - 01:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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