Brazilian Antarctic Program

The Brazilian Antarctic Program (Portuguese: Programa Antártico Brasileiro; PROANTAR) is a program of the Brazilian Navy which has presence in the continent of Antarctica.[1] It coordinates research and the operational support for research in the region. It currently maintains a year-round research station in Antarctica (Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station), as well as several seasonal field camps. It also maintains two research vessels that sail in the Antarctic waters (the icebreakers Almirante Maximiano and Ary Rongel).[1]

Brazilian Antarctic Program
Programa Antártico Brasileiro
Government agency overview
FormedJanuary 1982 (January 1982)
HeadquartersBrasília, Federal District
Parent Government agencyCNPq, Brazilian Navy
WebsitePROANTAR

History

The program was officially created in January 1982, when the Brazilian Navy acquired the Danish icebreaker Thala Dan, later renamed Barão de Teffé. That same year, Brazil sent its first expedition ("Operation Antarctica I") to the Antarctic continent and the Barão de Teffé performed a reconnaissance mission to the northwestern sector of Antarctica in order to select the location where the future Brazilian Antarctic Station would be built. The success of that expedition resulted in international recognition of the Brazilian presence in Antarctica, which allowed the acceptance of the country as a consultative party to the Antarctic Treaty in 1983. A second expedition ("Operation Antarctica II") was held in the summer of 1983–84, with the main task of transporting and building the Brazilian station. The Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station, consisting of 8 modules, was completed on 6 February 1984. The station was expanded to 33 modules in the following year. Starting in 1986, the station was permanently occupied during the 365 days of the year.[1]

In February 1991, President Fernando Collor de Mello reaffirmed Brazil's interest in the region by visiting the Brazilian Antarctic Station, where he spent three days. He was the first Brazilian president to set foot in the Antarctic.[2] In January 2008, 13 congressmen members of the Brazilian Antarctica Parliamentary Committee visited the Brazilian Antarctic Station.[3] Another visit by the members of Congress took place in January 2009.[4]

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a visit to Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station in March 2008.

On February 16, 2008, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and a delegation of twenty-three people, including first lady Marisa Letícia, visited the country's station in Antarctica. The Brazilian Government defined the presidential trip as a "political gesture" in support of the work displayed by Brazilian scientists and military personnel.[5][6]

In 2009, the Brazilian Navy incorporated the icebreaker Almirante Maximiano (ex-"Ocean Empress") into its fleet. The Almirante Maximiano operates UH-12/13 and IH-6B aircraft with a hangar for two helicopters. The Brazilian Navy installed five modern laboratories for the development of scientific research in the Antarctic environment. The ship can accommodate 106 passengers, with 1/3 being scientists and researchers.[1]

In 2009 Brazil made its first national scientific expedition to the Antarctic ice sheet.[7][8] The expedition integrated atmospheric, glaciological, geological and geophysical studies along the Patriot Hills area and also along the subglacial lake Ellsworth area.[7] On 12 January 2012, the Brazilian Antarctic Program inaugurated the Criosfera 1 module, located on the plateau of the western Antarctica ice sheet, at 84°00' S–79°30' W. It is located 670 kilometres (420 mi) from the geographical South Pole and 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) south of the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station.

On 25 February 2012, a blast in the machine room housing the generators at the station caused a fire that, according to the Brazilian navy, destroyed approximately 70% of the building.[9] Two soldiers, originally reported as missing by the Brazilian navy, were found dead in the debris of the station after the fire, while a third one sustained non-life-threatening injuries.[10] It has been rebuilt since and the new facility was inaugurated with the presence of Brazil's Vice-President Hamilton Mourão and Minister of Science and Technology Marcos Pontes in January 2020.[11]

Facilities

In Antarctica
View of Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (before the fire and remodeling) facing the Admiralty Bay.

Outside Antarctica
  • Estação de Apoio Antártico - Support station located at Rio Grande

Transport

The Brazilian Navy and the Brazilian Air Force are responsible for the logistics of the Brazilian Antarctic Program, including the transport of military and civilian personnel, equipment, and supplies to Antarctica. The main equipment used for this purpose are:[1]

Ships
Brazilian Navy icebreaker Almirante Maximiano
  • Almirante Maximiano (H-41) - Icebreaker and oceanographic research ship of the Brazilian Navy.
  • Ary Rongel (H-44) - Icebreaker and oceanographic research ship of the Brazilian Navy.
  • Cruzeiro do Sul (H-38) - Oceanographic research ship of the Brazilian Navy.
    • Barão de Teffé (H-42) - Oceanographic research ship of the Brazilian Navy (decommissioned).
    • NOc Almirante Câmara (H-41) - Oceanographic research ship of the Brazilian Navy (decommissioned).
    • NOc Almirante Álvaro Alberto (H-43) - Oceanographic research ship of the Brazilian Navy (decommissioned).
    • NOc Professor Besnard - Oceanographic research ship of University of São Paulo.

Aircraft

Organizations

The Brazilian Antarctic Program is managed by the Brazilian Navy in partnership with various government organizations.[1] Also, several Federal universities and research institutes take part in the program.

References
  1. Programa Antartico Brasileiro ("Brazilian Antarctic Program) Archived 2012-02-14 at the Wayback Machine Brazilian Navy. Retrieved on 2012-02-27. (in Portuguese).
  2. Brazil Warms to Job of Exploring the Frozen Continent Antarctica: President Collor pays a visit, pointing up the country's interest in the bottom of the world Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.
  3. Parlamentares que visitaram a Antártida já estão no Brasil. Chamber of Deputies of Brazil. Retrieved on 2009-07-15. (in Portuguese)
  4. Deputados visitam Antártida para conhecer pesquisas na região Chamber of Deputies of Brazil. Retrieved on 2009-07-15. (in Portuguese)
  5. President Lula da Silva visits Brazilian base in Antarctica MercoPress. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.
  6. Lula Visits a Piece of Brazil in Antarctica and Gets Emotional Archived September 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Brazzil Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-07-15.
  7. Brazil: 2009/2010 Annual Information (Brazilian National Multidisciplinary Expedition to the Antarctic Ice Sheet: investigating the cryospheric response to global changes) Antarctic Treaty System. Retrieved on 2010-10-23.
  8. Brasil instalará puesto avanzado en interior de la Antártida Fundación Nuestro Mar. Retrieved on 2010-10-23. (in Spanish).
  9. (in Portuguese) Nota à Imprensa 3 – Incêndio na Estação Antártica Comandante Ferraz ("Press Release 3 - Fire at Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Base") Archived 2012-04-17 at the Wayback Machine Brazilian Navy. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  10. Two die in fire at Brazil's Antarctic research station BBC. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  11. Brazil Opens New Base in Antarctica Folha de São Paulo. Retrieved 19 Abril 2020.
  12. Criosfera 1 - a landmark achievement Adventure Network International. Retrieved on 2012-02-27.
  13. WABA Directory: Brazil DDXC. Retrieved on 2012-02-27.
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