On January 27, the second part of the ANTAR XXVI oceanographic campaign, which will see the ship, began from Punta Arenas (Chile) Bap Carrasco of the Peruvian Navy engaged in research activities in the Bransfield Strait, south of the Shetland Islands.
On board the ship Bap Carrasco the frigate captain Maurizio Demarte, head of marine geophysics and oceanography department at the Hydrographic Institute of the Navy.
The presence of the on-board oceanographer specialist is the result of an international cooperation program that the Italian Navy has with the Peruvian Navy, in particular between the two hydrographic institutes for a mutual exchange of knowledge and job opportunities.
The experience of Commander Demarte in the two Arctic expeditions High North17 e High North18, as part of the Arctic research program of the Navy called HIGH NORTH, is a mutual exchange of knowledge and conducting activities in extreme environments.
On board the ship Bap Carrasco, commanded by "Capitan de Navio" Rafael Benavente Donayre with a crew of 65 soldiers, there are 45 researchers of different scientific backgrounds and nationalities, of which only 22 remained for activities at sea, while the rest are operating at the base in Machu Picchu land.
The research activities which have just begun include hydro-oceanographic surveys, geomorphological and morphodynamic studies of the Bransfield Strait area, as well as the geological and geophysical characterization of the Orca seamount, an underwater volcano of particular interest.
This activity will be a comparison and growth opportunity for both the Marine and the respective hydrographic institutes for a more and more extensive cooperation and collaboration with a sharing of activities and joint scientific research programs.
The ship Bap Carrasco is an oceanographic vessel with polar abilities, ICE-CLASS 07, of very recent construction, delivered to the Peruvian navy in March of 2017. It is equipped with equipped laboratories and the latest technology to operate between the ice with a dynamic positioning system, two portals, one side and the other aft, winches for operations at high depths, cores, ROV with the ability to operate up to 1000 meters , two AUV HUGIN 3000 configured for geophysical and hydrographic surveys, modern multi-beam sounders integrated with subbottom profiler for fund prospecting and marine background up to 11000 meters depth.
