All of Argentina's bases in Antarctica are now equipped with telecommunications systems depending on nationally-owned ARSAT satellites instead of relying on foreign providers, it was announced.
The Argentine government has approved the funds for the design and construction of a new polar vessel to complement the activities of ice breaker ARA Almirante Irizar in her task of delivering provisions to the Argentine thirteen Antarctic bases. Works and design will be undertaken by the government-owned shipyard Tandanor and Finland's consulting firm Aker Arctic, with the funds allotted totaling 69 million Argentine pesos ( some US$ 6,5 million) and 7 million Euros.
The Government of Argentina Wednesday approved the allocation of funds to the Tandanor state shipyard to advance in cooperation with Finnish consultants Aker Arctic in the design and construction of a new polar ship to join the icebreaker ARA Almirante Irízar in delivering supplies to the thirteen bases in Antarctica.
Argentina's 2020/2021 Antarctic campaign successfully finished last week after the arrival of the Argentine Navy icebreaker “Almirante Irízar” at the port of Buenos Aires without registering any positive case of Covid-19 among its 392 crew members, military and scientists.
The official Argentine 2020/21 Antarctic season was launched last Friday with a ceremony at the Buenos Aires Navy pier where the icebreaker “ARA Almirante Irizar” was docked, but with no authorities boarding the vessel to avoid any possible coronavirus contagion.
According to reports in the Argentine media next November the Australian flagged icebreaker Aurora Australis will be docking in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, and then head for Buenos Aires where, allegedly, she will be incorporated to the Argentine navy fleet and will be participating next to ARA Almirante Irizar in the 2020/21 Antarctica campaign.
President Alberto Fernandez on Friday underlined the significance of Argentina's standing presence in Antarctica, --to defend its sovereignty claims--, and also recalled that 187 years ago the British invaded and usurped the Malvinas Islands, a land which “we will never renounce to, and we will always claim”.
Argentina's icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar has completed its round of supplying Antarctic bases, on time and according to planning, reports the Antarctic Joint Command. The bases involved are Esperanza, Marambio and Carlini.
With the departure of icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar, Argentina launched this week its Antarctica Summer Campaign 2018/19. The re furbished icebreaker is scheduled to develop an intense scientific activity, supply Argentina's bases and stations and replace the teams that will be spending a whole season in Antarctica.
Argentina's icebreaker Almirante Irizar is back in Buenos Aires at the end of its first Antarctic campaign in ten years, following the fire that almost knocked the Finnish built vessel out of action. She left on 26 December and completed 107 days in the high seas and Antarctica's ice.