Brazilian Antarctic Program
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | January, 1982 |
| Website | PROANTAR |
The Brazilian Antarctic Program (Portuguese: Programa Antártico Brasileiro; PROANTAR) is a program of the Brazilian Navy which has presence in the continent of Antarctica. 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).
The program was officially created in January 1982, when the Brazilian Navy acquired the Danish icebreaker MV 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.
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. In January 2008, 13 congressmen members of the Brazilian Antarctica Parliamentary Committee visited the Brazilian Antarctic Station. Another visit by the members of Congress took place in January 2009.
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