The Oceanographic Research ship ‘Hespérides’ starts the 27th Antarctic Campaign.

The oceanographic research ship ‘Hespérides’ has started her 27th Antarctic Campaign. The farewell ceremony, attended by family members of the crew and press and social media representatives, was presided over by the Maritime Action Admiral (ALMART) Vice admiral Alfonso Delgado Moreno. The ‘Hespérides’ is the only Spanish vessel with capability for multidisciplinary scientific research in all of the world’s seas and oceans including Arctic and Antarctic waters.

This year’s campaign is a R&D endeavor organized by different public and private institutions. In addition to the Ministry of Defense, other departments cooperate, like the Ministry of Science and Innovation. The Spanish Polar Committee is in charge of coordinating all the agencies involved in the Antarctic projects.

The ship is now heading towards the port of Punta Arenas (Chile) where the scientists and other personnel will embark. There are two Spanish Antarctic bases: the ‘Juan Carlos I’ base, managed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC in its Spanish initials) and the ‘Gabriel de Castilla’ base managed by the Spanish Army.

Apart from the research projects to be conducted in the bases, the ‘Hespérides’ will perform other scientific missions in waters off the Antarctic continent. The vessel will also carry out logistic related tasks transporting personnel and material to and from the ports of Ushuaia (Argentina) and Punta Arenas (Chile).

The 27th Antarctic campaign will conclude in the last weeks of March coinciding with the end of the Antarctic summer.