Base 'Gabriel de Castilla' in the Antarctic Open

Ten Army service personnel and two Spanish civilian scientists disembarked on Deception Island on 23rd November and proceeded to open Antarctic Base ‘Gabriel de Castilla’. After confirming the lack of seismic-volcanic activity on the island and a work-intense first day, the base is now operating, thus marking the start of the Army’s 25th Antarctic Campaign. The team for the base opening embarked in Punta Arenas (Chile) on the Spanish Navy Oceanographic Research Ship ‘Las Palmas’.

During the afternoon of 22nd November, and from the Oceanographic Research Ship itself, exterior reconnaissance of the island was undertaken, as marks the protocol of action in the opening and operation of the base. After holding navigation during the night hours, the ship entered Port Foster to proceed to undertake interior reconnaissance to the point where the ice floe –floating ice layer- allowed.

On not observing any volcanic activity, the scientific team in charge of the evaluation of volcano status disembarked, accompanied by the base commander, Major Antonio Casals, and five more members of the military expedition. Once reconnaissance was carried out and the status of the crater evaluated, the remaining team personnel disembarked in order to begin base opening labours.

The first raising of the Spanish Flag saw participation by representatives from the Oceanographic Research Ship "Las Palmas" –Navy Lieutenant Enrique Valdés-, along with members of the Army mission who had already arrived in the Antarctic. The group will be completed in a few days when the two military members remaining in Ushuaia (Argentina), also disembark on Deception Island.