Brazil ship off to Antarctica for research support

Oceanographic ship Ary Rongel set off Wednesday (Oct. 11) from Rio de Janeiro with 107 crew members to provide support for Brazil’s scientific research projects in Antarctica. The vessel is expected to reach the continent on October 26.

Oceanographic ship Ary Rongel. Foto: Tomaz Silva/Agência Brasil

Ary Rongel Commandant Antônio Braz de Souza said that the main task of the ship is to offer support for the Brazilian Antarctic Program, with logistic support for the Emergency Antarctic Modules. The ship will also be used in the reconstruction of Commandant Ferraz Antarctic Station, in addition to serving as a platform for the conduction of research studies. Her return to Rio is slated for April 2018.

Scientific activities include studies from a number of study and research institutions across the country, which avail themselves of the ship as well as equipment installed in Antarctica.

The Brazilian Antarctic Program was created in 1982 and aims to include Brazil among the countries under the Antarctic Treaty. The Commandant Ferraz Station was installed two years later, in February 1984, lodging military agents and scientists.

The station was destroyed in a fire on February 25, 2012. Two Navy agents died trying to put out the fire. Since then, the installation of emergency modules has made it possible for Brazilians to stay on the station and research to continue.

The end of the reconstruction of the new station is slated for March 2018, the commandant reported. (Agência Brasil)

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