The Oceanographic Research Ship ‘Hespérides’ crossed the Atlantic Ocean

The oceanographic research ship (BIO in its Spanish initials) ‘Hespérides’ called at Buenos Aires last week after a 23-day cruise from her home port in Cartagena to participate in the 28th Antarctic campaign, where 15 research projects will be carried out.

Upon her arrival to this South-American city, the ship was welcomed by the Spanish Ambassador to Argentina, Estanislao de Grandes, accompanied by several local naval authorities like the River Area Commander and the Antarctic Naval Commander.

During the five-day port of call in Buenos Aires the ship welcomed the Spanish State Secretary for R&D, Carmen Vela, who attended a conference on board about the ship’s capabilities and her mission in the Antarctic, delivered by her Commanding Officer Javier Moreno. After the briefing, Carmen Vela was toured around the main compartments of the research ship and several scientists and technicians explained to her some of the projects to be developed in the Antarctic.

The ‘Hespérides’ is the only Spanish research ship purposely designed to conduct multi-disciplinary scientific research projects in all the world’s oceans. She is scheduled to arrive at the Antarctic on November 30th when the two Spanish bases there –‘Gabriel de Castilla’ and ‘Juan Carlos I’– will be opened for research activities.