MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' logistic support for BAS vessels and aircrafts

BAS vessels docked at FIPASS in Stanley

With spring in the South Atlantic, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) ships and aircraft have returned to the Falkland Islands in preparation for the 2007/08 Antarctic season.

The RRS James Clark Rossarrived in Stanley on Tuesday. She will be re-supplying BAS stations on South Georgia as well as opening up Signy Station. She is expected back in Stanley on November 19 before heading off for several science cruises in the Drake Passage and then to Rothera Station for re-supply in early December. The RRS Shackletonis still in the UK and is due to set sail in early November. BAS spokesperson Athena Dinar said: "This season we start the build of our new Halley VI Station, so she will operate between Cape Town and Halley only." All the BAS aircraft are now at Rothera. This year they will operate out of Stanley and Punta Arenas. Ms Dinar said about two thirds of flights in and out of Rothera would be from Stanley, with the remainder from Punta Arenas. "This provides our operations team with maximum flexibility if personnel are delayed and need to transfer flights. In addition, there are more flights in/out of Punta (every day), which is not the case from Stanley."(PN)