The oceanographic research ship ‘Hespérides’ participates in the closing of the Antarctic bases

The oceanographic research ship ‘Hespérides’ has participated in the closing of the two Spanish Antarctic bases: ‘Juan Carlos I’ and ‘Gabriel de Castilla’, thus concluding her mission in that continent.

On February 24th the ‘Gabriel de Castilla’ brought to an end its activities in Deception Island embarking on the ‘Hespérides’ the scientific material used for the different projects, as well as the scientists and Army personnel in charge of the base. The closing ceremony, presided over by the base’s Chief, Army Major José Pablo Sánchez Lacalle, consisted in the lowering of the flag which was handed to the ship’s CO Commander Julio Albaladejo. That same flag had flown in the fore mast of the ‘Hespérides’ during the cruise from Spain to the base, thus having sailed for 7,000 nautical miles and flown 83 days in the base mast.

The ship subsequently proceeded towards Livingston Island where the other Spanish base, ‘Juan Carlos I’ is located. After its closure and embarkation of its personnel on the 26th, the ship left the Antarctic continent.

The ‘Hespérides’ has been operating in the southernmost seas from November 29th 2014 to February 27th 2015 with two ports of call in the Argentinian city of Ushuaia for replenishment and crew rest purposes.

During the scheduled two month-long cruise back to Spain, two scientific projects will be carried out: one of them in the Río de la Plata estuary (between Argentina and Uruguay) and another one in the Atlantic Ocean after a port of call in Salvador, Bahia.

The ship left her home port in Cartagena on October 20th 2014 and will return in May.