After setting sail from the commercial dock of the city of Ushuaia, the Argentine Icebreaker ARA “Almirante Irízar” (Q-5) began the second stage of the 2023/2024 Summer Antarctic Campaign (CAV), after completing the scheduled replenishment tasks in preparation for a new voyage to the white continent.
The unit, under the command of the Naval Transportation Command, had moored in Ushuaia on Wednesday, January 31st, after over a month of operations. During the first phase, a total navigation of 5,248 nautical miles (9,719.30 kilometers) was carried out over 34 days, during which fuel supply and transportation tasks were conducted; chilled, refrigerated, and dry provisions; various scientific and construction materials; as well as general cargo for the Bases Orcadas, Petrel, Marambio, Esperanza; and also for the Carlini Scientific Base.
The interval between the first and second stages also includes work on the Sea King helicopters deployed aboard the Irizar. Both units underwent preventive, corrective maintenance, and system inspection tasks in the hangars of the Ushuaia Naval Air Station.
It is worth noting that a few days ago, the ARA “Bahía Agradable” (A-23) patrol boat, assigned to logistic support tasks for the 2023/2024 CAV, set sail from Ushuaia bound for Antarctica to continue with the planned activities for the campaign’s second phase.
*Image credits: Argentine Navy
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