The Oceanographic Research Ship ‘Hespérides’ visits Montevideo.

The oceanographic research ship ‘Hespérides’ arrived in Montevideo for a port call of three days. The ship, engaged in the 32nd Spanish Antarctic Campaign, will embark Uruguayan scientific material for the Uruguayan Antarctic Bases as well as food, fuel and other provisions.

Protocol activities include visits of servicemen of the Uruguayan Navy, members of the Uruguayan Antarctic Institute and the delivery to the Oceanographic and Hydrographic Service of the Uruguayan Navy of an Antarctic nautical chart drafted and issued by the Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute. A luncheon was also hosted for some crew members by the Spanish Ambassador to Uruguay.

The next stop is Ushuaia (Argentina) to embark more scientists and technicians. She will then sail towards the South Shetland Islands. The ‘Hespérides’ will give support to the two Spanish Bases: the ‘Juan Carlos I’ managed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the ‘Gabriel de Castilla’ ran by the Spanish Army. The ship will also serve as scientific platform to conduct several research projects in the Antarctic and the Central Atlantic Ocean.

This 32nd Campaign will supervise 24 research projects, 18 of which are financed by the National Research Agency, 1 by the National Meteorological Agency and another one by the Spanish Navy Hydrographic Institute, among others. The Spanish scientific facilities will also provide support to other projects from Colombia, United Kingdom, Chile, Norway, Brazil and Portugal.