The reception ceremony of the new vessel “Mar Argentino” (which translates as “Argentine Sea”) was carried out last November 25 on the port of the city of Mar del Plata. The ship was acquired by the National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP) for fisheries and oceanographic research.
The ship will increase the country's capabilities in terms of scientific research to exercise sovereignty, get to know our sea and our resources more, in order to use them and preserve them better.
The event was attended by the ministers of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Luis Basterra; of Science, Technology and Innovation, Roberto Salvarezza; and of Security, Sabina Frederic. The ship's arrival was also attended by the Secretary of Malvinas, Antarctica and South Atlantic, Daniel Filmus; the Secretary of Research and Industrial Policy and Production for Defense, Daniela Castro; the Director of Social Programs, Institutional Management and Competitiveness of the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs of the Presidency, Gustavo Vaca; the Buenos Aires Minister of Agrarian Development, Javier Rodríguez; the Mayor of General Pueyrredón, Guillermo Montenegro, and the president of INIDEP, Oscar Padín.
“Today the sea surface is almost double our continental surface, where we can identify new opportunities, but also threats. Therefore, just as from the field of foreign relations we are working on the task of recovering the Malvinas in a peaceful way, we also mark sovereignty every time we do scientific research in order to make proper use of the resources that belong exclusively to all the Argentines” said Basterra during the ceremony.
Moreover, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries highlighted that the incorporation of the new vessel “represents the conjunction of the State's commitment to an activity as relevant as fishing, and it is to take advantage of our marine resources in a sustainable way. A wealth that is used correctly is well-being for all Argentines”.
For his part, Salvarezza pointed out “with the arrival of this new vessel we continue to reinforce the science and technology system of our country. It is a very important fact for Argentine sovereignty because we are increasing research capabilities in the sea and we will therefore strengthen a strategic initiative, as is the Pampa Azul, presented in 2014 by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner”.
Meanwhile, Filmus stated that “the incorporation of ‘Mar Argentino’ will increase our capabilities in terms of scientific research to exercise sovereignty, get to know our sea and our resources more, in order to use them and preserve them better.
Moreover, a ceremony of recognition was held to honor the crew of the Fisheries Research Vessel “Doctor Eduardo L. Holmberg” -also part of the INIDEP fleet- for their forty years of activity.
“Mar Argentino” features
The new vessel will replace the old “Captain Cánepa” ship, built in 1964 as a fishing vessel and later modified for scientific activity. In this sense, the acquisition constitutes a very important step in terms of innovation applied to fishing activity.
The “Mar Argentino”, whose name was chosen through the vote of INIDEP staff, will aim to work in coastal waters, many of which have shallow depths, where the knowledge of the biological processes that occur are vital for the good management and sustainability of the resources.
The vessel is 36 meters long and 8.5 meters wide, and features diesel electric propulsion, a retractable keel and low noise propagation overboard, and its crew is composed of 11 nautical and 8 scientific-technical crew.
It also has three laboratories on the main deck (wet, multipurpose and equipment control and hydro-acoustics); winches for midwater and bottom trawling; winches for oceanographic instruments and plankton and benthos sampling, and acoustic equipment.
The total investment for the building of the ship was above 7 million dollars, with funds provided by the National State and a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
