ARA Comodoro Rivadavia (Q-11)

For other ships with the same name, see ARA Comodoro Rivadavia.
History
Argentina
NameComodoro Rivadavia
NamesakeComodoro Rivadavia
BuilderAstilleros Mestrina
CommissionedDecember 1974
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Displacement827 tons (full)
Length52.2 m (171 ft 3 in)
Beam8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
Draft2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Propulsion2 Stork Werkspoor diesel-electric 600 hp (450 kW) each
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Range6,000 mi (9,700 km) at 12 knots
Complement36

ARA Comodoro Rivadavia (Q-11) is a survey ship of the Argentine Navy assigned to the national Hydrographic Naval Service (SHN for Servicio de Hidrografia Naval)[1] which among other things is responsible of the maintenance of nautical charts and navigational aids

Construction and equipment

Comodoro Rivadavia was built by the Mestrina de Tigre shipyard, Buenos Aires.[2]  She was laid down on July 17, 1971, and launched on December 2, 1972.  She was delivered to the Argentine Navy on December 6, 1974.[2]

The ship displaces 609 tons with standard load and 667 t with full load.[2]  Her length measures 52.2 meters, her beam is 8.8 m and her draft is 2.6 m. The ship is powered by two 1160 hp Werkspoor Stork RHO-218K diesel engines, which allow the ship to reach a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h). She has two controllable pitch propellers that allow the ship to maneuver in tight spaces.[2]

Hydrographic systems

The ship is classified as a hydrographic vessel and equipped with probes and bathymetric sensors.

In 2007, along with ARA Puerto Deseado, was reequipped by Kongsberg Gruppen with bathymetric systems in a program sponsored by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programs).[3]

In 2011, the ship's hydrographic equipment were listed as follows:[4]

  • Differential Satellite Navigator (DGPS) for precision unit positioning
  • Three sonar echosounders, one of them portable for object detection
  • Plotter for making bathymetric maps
  • Fax-modem - for reception of weather charts
  • Semi-rigid boat of 5.6 m in length, 70 HP engine, equipped with DGPS satellite navigator and computer with "Hidronav" 2

Mission History

Comodoro Rivadavia carries out various scientific research missions, and is an important asset for carrying out Argentina's National Cartographic Plan, by conducting hydrographic surveys on navigable routes. She also regularly conducts Antarctic campaigns and research.

In May 1998, she provided assistance to those affected by coastal flooding caused by the El Niño phenomenon.[5]

Beginning in 2007 this ship was involved in mapping the Patagonian continental shelf of the Argentine Sea. This project was submitted to the United Nations (UN) on 22 April 2009 to support Argentina's claim that 1,700,000 square kilometres (660,000 sq mi) of ocean should be in the Argentinian Exclusive economic zone under the Convention on the Continental Shelf and Convention on the Law of the Sea.[6][7][8] This claim was recognized by the UN in 2016.[9]

In July 2013, she participated in the search for a crew member of the Virgen María fishing boat, who disappeared at sea.[10]

In September 2014, the ship used its hydrographic instrumentation to assist in a SARSUB exercise with the Salta submarine.[11]

In November 2017, she participated in the search for the missing Argentine Navy submarine, ARA San Juan (S-42). The wreckage of the sub was finally discoved a year after sinking.[12]

The ship remained on the navy list as of 2022, but was reported as likely soon to be placed on the disposal list.[13] In 2024 it was announced that the ship was to be auctioned off.[14]

References

Notes

  1. ^ SHN
  2. ^ a b c d Moore, John (1981). Jane's fighting ships 1981-82. Jane's. p. 32. ISBN 0-7106-0728-8.
  3. ^ KONGSBERG installs echo sounders on Argentine Navy survey ships
  4. ^ ":: ARMADA ARGENTINA ::". 2011-06-21. Archived from the original on 2011-06-21. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  5. ^ "5,000 soldiers mobilized to assist the victims (translated from spanish)".
  6. ^ "Argentina claims vast ocean area". BBC News. 2009-04-22. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
  7. ^ El buque Oceanográfico ARA” Puerto Deseado”, inicia la CAV 08-09
  8. ^ El Senado bonaerense resalta el aporte del buque oceanográfico “Puerto Deseado” Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Argentina, on a UN decision expands continental shelf area by 35% to 350 miles". MercoPress. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  10. ^ "Gaceta Marinera Digital © | ARMADA ARGENTINA ::". 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  11. ^ "Gaceta Marinera Digital © | ARMADA ARGENTINA ::". 2015-04-02. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  12. ^ "Buenos Aires Times | ARA San Juan: Search locates 5 objects with potential links to missing sub". www.batimes.com.ar. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  13. ^ Piñero, Luis (27 July 2022). "Buques de la Armada Argentina para chatarra". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  14. ^ Solá, Mariano Germán Videla (2024-09-04). "La Armada Argentina subasta cuatro buques en desuso, incluidos el aviso 'Alférez Sobral' y la corbeta 'Guerrico', veteranos de Malvinas". Zona Militar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-09-05.

Sources