The Oceanographic Research Ship ‘Hespérides’ welcomed on board the Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities.

The oceanographic research ship (BIO in its Spanish initials) ‘Hespérides’ (A-33) welcomed the Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Pedro Duque, who was accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón, the Spanish Ambassador to Chile, Enrique Ojeda, the Defense State Secretary, Ángel Olivares and the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Army, General Francisco Javier Varela.

During the stay in the Antarctic continent, the entourage visited the recently refurbished Spanish base ‘Juan Carlos I’ and later proceeded to the other Spanish base, ‘Gabriel de Castilla’ and the two Chilean bases: ‘Escudero’ and ‘O’Higgins’. These activities took place from the 1st to the 5th of this month.

They also attended, first hand, some evolutions of the scientific research projects conducted on board the BIO ‘Hespérides’, like sample collection in the South Shetlands and Hope Bay.