Mission seeks advancement in scientific development and international cooperation

By Lieutenant-Captain (RM2-T) Luciano Franklin de Carvalho – Brasília, DF

The month of March began with an achievement during the 41st Antarctic Operation – OPERANTAR XLI. In attendance to the scientific projects carried out by Brazilian researchers in the frozen continent, the Oceanographic Support Ship (NApOc) “Ary Rongel” crossed the Antarctic Circle, after crossing the Gerlache strait, located northwest of the Antarctic Peninsula. The last record of this crossing occurred in 2001.

The commander of the “Ary Rongel”, Sea and War Captain Fabiano de Medeiros Ichayo, points out that the main challenge in the crossing is to navigate through narrow, tortuous channels with the presence of sea ice, where cartographic detailing is still limited, usually under adverse weather conditions, with strong winds and reduced visibility.

“Favorable weather windows are shortened as you sail further south, as well as the presence of sea ice increases, especially in the straits, such as Gerlache,” he claimed.

Besides the efeméride of crossing the polar circle, the Commander says that the occasion demanded contact with the North American Station “Palmer” and that these interactions between representatives of other countries, operating south of the peninsula, are inserted in the context of the “Antarctic Diplomacy”, which strengthens the ties for mutual support and cooperation, provided for in the Antarctic Treaty, which Brazil joined in 1975.

Antarctic islands and mountains with Brazilian names

Another goal achieved on the southbound journey was the passage through the Cruls Islands, on Mount Rio Branco, and on Almirante Alexandrino de Alencar Peak, toponyms in honor of Brazilian personalities who contributed to the development of navigation and science in Antarctica.

Cruls Islands

The Cruls Islands were named after the Belgian astronomer and naturalized Brazilian, Luiz Cruls, who was director of the National Observatory in 1881. In 1882 he participated in the commission sent by D. Pedro II to the city of Punta Arenas to observe the passage of Venus through the solar disk. In 1898, as director of the Brazilian Historical and Geographical Institute, Cruls supported the expedition of the Belgian Adrien de Gerlache, while in Rio de Janeiro, bound for Antarctica. During this expedition, the Brazilian flag was raised for the first time in the Antarctic continent by Gerlache, in honor of the Brazilians who supported him in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio Branco Mountain

The Baron of Rio Branco was honored by the French explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, with the baptism of a 975-meter high mountain, in view of the fact that, when Minister of Foreign Affairs, he supported the 1908 French expedition, which also stopped in Rio de Janeiro city on its way to Antarctica.

Admiral Alexandrino de Alencar Peak

Admiral Alexandrino de Alencar was also honored by the French Charcot expedition, with his name given to a peak located at 1,555 meters altitude. Admiral Alexandrino was the Minister of the Navy and also provided relevant support to the French expedition on the occasion of its passage through Rio de Janeiro.
For Commander Ichayo, the navigation through these locations highlights the potential of Brazilian ships in Antarctica and the characteristics of mobility and permanence, which allow the exploration of new areas of interest on the frozen continent and its surrounding waters. “This creates conditions for the Brazilian Antarctic Program to continue expanding beyond the South Shetland Islands [where the Brazilian Antarctic station Comandante Ferraz is located, which contributes to confer geopolitical and scientific stature to Brazil.”

Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias

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