The country says it will pay Fesco $4m to charter the 10,700-dwt Vasiliy Golovnin multipurpose ship (built 1988) to supply Antarctica for three months beginning in January, Argentine media report.

The need to turn to a foreign company comes 7 months after a fire disabled the 14,900-dwt Almirante Irizar (built 1978). The ship has yet to be repaired.

The Vasiliy Golovnin still will be unable to reach one of Argentina's Antarctic bases long served by the Irizar, the Clarin newspaper reports.

The navy also has secured smaller, government-owned vessels from China and Brazil, all to fill in the shoes of the Irizar.

The Argentine media even has noted the absence of the vessel in the response to the recent sinking of the 2,300-gt Explorer (built 1969).

The Almirante Irizar was the vessel that responded to the 19,900-dwt Magdalena Oldendorff (built 1993) when it became trapped off Antarctica in 2002.

TradeWinds