Belgrano News

The Argentine Navy submarine that went missing a year ago off the country's Atlantic Coast was found by a private company involved in what had been a massive search for the vessel and its 44-member crew, the defense ministry said in a news conference on Saturday.The ARA San Juan submarine was discovered by marine tracking contractor Ocean Infinity, 907 meters (2,975 feet) below the ocean surface. The vessel was found in an underwater canyon with its tail partially "imploded," Argentina's Defense Minister Carlos Aguad said.Given the poor visibility at the site…

Argentina and other South American countries are likely to maintain or increase their submarine programs despite the scrutiny that has followed the fatal loss of an Argentine sub in South Atlantic waters last month, defense specialists said. The disappearance of the ARA San Juan with 44 crew members aboard has put pressure on Argentine President Mauricio Macri to consider boosting spending for the military, including the country’s two remaining submarines. Military spending sharply decreased after the end of Argentina’s dictatorship in 1983.

Eco Marine Power (EMP) has begun preparing for sea trials of its Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) solution in co-operation with strategic partners and ship owner Hisafuku Kisen K.K. of Onomichi, Japan. This preparatory work will lead to the world’s first installation of an integrated rigid sail and solar power system for ships using EMP’s patented technologies including the EnergySail. This is a major step forward towards a more sustainable future for shipping and is expected to result in the wider deployment of EMP’s solutions on ships ranging from coastal cargo vessels to bulk ore carriers and cruise ships. Currently underway is a feasibility study involving several large bulk carriers including the Belgrano, Nord Gemini and Bulk Chile.

Prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc., New York.

In October 2009 the contract came into effect for Sener to carry out the engineering work and provide technical assistance in repairing and modernising the icebreaker Almirante Irizar (RHAI) following the fire it suffered in April 2007. The scope of the contract includes engineering the stripping down of the equipment and damaged structure, the basic and development engineering for all the areas, equipment and systems affected by the repairs / modernisation, and technical support throughout the process, including ocean trials and ice trials.

By Capt. Four Canadian ships completed training with the George Washington Carrier Strike (GW CSG) Group Feb. 29 following the completion of their Task Group Exercise 02-08 while at sea off the coast of Florida. The destroyer HMCS Iroquois (DDG 280), frigates HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH 332), HMCS St. John's (FFH 340), oil replenishment ship HMCS Preserver (AOR 510), and the submarine HMCS Corner Brook (SSK-878) trained cooperatively with USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Farragut (DDG-99), USS Boone (FFG-28) and USS Kauffman (FFG-59). Two haze-gray ships, Farragut and Boone, slipped out of the Mayport, Fla., basin to join four others of a slightly different color.

An Argentine Navy ice breaker battled to free a U.S.-operated cruise liner with 186 people aboard which is trapped in a field of ice off the coast of Antarctica on Jan. 31. The Clipper Adventurer, carrying 115 passengers and 71 crew, was sailing through the Straight of Matha west of the Antarctic Peninsula, about 900 miles south of Tierra del Fuego, when a change of wind unexpectedly dragged ice around it, the Argentine Navy said. The 330-foot Clipper Adventurer sailed from the Argentine port of Ushuaia in the far southern island of Tierra del Fuego on Jan. 28, and was sailing between the islands of Belgrano and Liard when it was trapped. No damage to the ship or injuries were reported.