11 March 2018

Información para la Prensa N°: 091/18

Upon receiving a request for assistance from the United States Antarctic Programme to evacuate a scientific camp and in coordination with the Ministry of Defence, Argentina's Almirante Irízar Icebreaker set sail to help.

Due to the density of the ice barrier on the Weddell Sea in front of Joinville Island, north-east of the Antarctic Peninsula, U.S. vessel Laurence M. Gould was unable to carry out the evacuation of the American scientific camp on the island.

Icebreaker Almirante Irízar was performing its duties at Carlini Station, north-west of the Antarctic Peninsula, when the National Directorate for Antarctica received the request for assistance from the U.S. Antarctic Programme, upon which it set sail east to carry out the operation, in coordination with the American crew aboard vessel Laurence M. Gould.

This morning, the five scientists in the camp and their cargo were successfully airlifted by helicopter to the Almirante Irízar Icebreaker.