The Oceanographic Research ship ‘Hespérides’ pulls into Mar del Plata for a scheduled port call.

On December 01 the oceanographic research ship ‘Hespérides’ pulled into Mar del Plata, being the first port call of this Spanish Navy ship since her departure from Cartagena last November 11 to participate in the 27th Antarctic Campaign.

The ‘Hespérides’ docked in the Mar del Plata Naval Station, where the Argentinian Navy has its submarine base and was welcomed by the base Commander. Subsequently, the ship’s commanding officer made a protocol visit to the Real Admiral, Chief of the Atlantic Naval Area.

The purpose of this first port call is primarily logistic to replenish provisions and fuel. After that, the ‘Hespérides’ will head towards Punta Arenas (Chile) first, and then to Ushuaia (Argentina), where the main access ports towards the Antarctic are located.

In Punta Arenas the ‘Hespérides’ will embark Army personnel and scientists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC in its Spanish initials) who will conduct R&D works in the two Spanish bases in the Antarctic: ‘Gabriel de Castilla’ and ‘Juan Carlos I’.