BAP Carrasco (BOP-171)

The BAP Carrasco is an oceanographic research vessel of the Peruvian Navy built in 2016 by Freire Shipyard in Vigo (Spain).[2] Its purpose is to perform oceanographic research cruises both, in Peruvian waters and in the Antarctica, in order to fulfil Peru's commitment under the Antarctic Treaty.[5] The ship has polar capability and it is classified with PC7 notation.[6]

BAP Carrasco (BOP-171)
History
Peru
Name: Carrasco
Namesake: Eduardo Carrasco Toro[1]
Owner:  Peruvian Navy
Ordered: 12 December 2014
Builder: C.N.P. Freire, S.A, Vigo, Spain
Launched: 7 May 2016[2]
Commissioned: 22 March 2017
Identification:
Status: in active service
General characteristics
Type: Research vessel
Displacement: 5,000 t[3]
Length: 95.3 metres (313 ft)
Beam: 18.0 metres (59.1 ft)
Draft: 5.95 metres (19.5 ft)
Propulsion: 2 azimuth propellers 3000 kW[4]
Speed: 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)[4]
Complement: (50 crew + 60 scientists)
Aviation facilities: Helicopter hangar 110 m2

Characteristics

The BAP Carrasco is 95.3 m long, weighs 5,000 tonnes, has a top speed of 16,5 kt,[4] it is powered by Caterpillar/General Electric diesel electric engines,[7] and it can stay at sea for up to 51 days.[8] The vessel is equipped with a meteorological office, six laboratories for different research purposes, a helicopter pad and a bathymetry transducer system fitted on the flat bottom of the hull. It generates an array of acoustic beams with up to 10,000 metres of reach below the vessel to map the sea floor and feeds the data back to the vessel in realtime. The vessel will also carry a Falcon DR remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which can reach depths of up to 1,000 m, and two smaller, torpedo-shaped submarine vehicles by AUV Kongsberg.[9][10][3]

According to its Polar Class 7 ice class notation,[11] the ship is able to keep its presence in Antarctica for long periods, allowing Peruvian scientists to perform more significant and long lasting researches, as well as giving a better support to Peruvian Antarctic Machu Picchu Base.

History

Reaching Callao base

The BAP Carrasco was acquired by the Peruvian government to improve its research activities in Peruvian territorial waters and in Antarctica, where Peru operates the Machu Picchu Base.

On 2014 the Peruvian Navy called for an international tender to award the construction of an oceanographic vessel with polar capabilities, emerging the Spaniard shipyard Freire as the winner. The contract was signed later on December 12, 2014.

On January 28, 2016 the ship was designated by Peruvian government as "BAP Carrasco (BOP-171)". It is named for Eduardo Carrasco Toro, Main Cosmographer of the Viceroyalty of Peru. On May 7, 2016 the vessel was launched in an official ceremony attended by Peruvian president Ollanta Humala, the Minister of Defense and the General Commander of the Navy.[12]

Ths ship was delivered by the Freire shipyard to the Peruvian Navy on March 22, 2017, in Vigo (Spain). On the same day it was commissioned in an official flag raising ceremony held on its deck and attended by James Thornberry Schiantarelli, a high-ranked official of the Peruvian Navy, and Jose Antonio García Belaunde, Peruvian ambassador to Spain, among other authorities.[10]

On May 3, 2017 the Carrasco arrived to its base in Callao port and was assigned to serve on Hydrography and Navigation Agency of the Peruvian Navy in a ceremony attended by Peruvian president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.[13] It was first deployed on 27 June 2017, participating in a 21-day mission.[14]

On December 14, 2017 the ship set sail into its first mission to Antarctica, as part of the XXV ANTAR expedition which has a length of 90 days. During this trip the Carrasco crew performed scientific research, provided maintenance and supply to Peruvian Antarctic Machu Picchu Base and made protocolar visits to other Antarctic bases, returning to its home base in Peru on March 14, 2018.[15]

See also

References

  1. "¿Porqué se nombró Carrasco al nuevo buque de la marina? (Why the new navy ship was named Carrasco?)" (in Spanish). elcomercio.pe. May 3, 2017.
  2. "Peruvian Navy launches new BAP Carrasco". janes.com. May 10, 2016.
  3. "BAP Carrasco". dhn.mil.pe/carrasco/en/. May 2, 2017.
  4. "Polar oceanographic vessel BAP Carrasco". freireshipyard.com. July 3, 2017.
  5. "Expanding Peru's Presence in Antarctica". peruthisweek.com/. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  6. "Peru to build an arctic research vessel". navigatormagazine.fi. May 29, 2016. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  7. "Spain hands over oceanographic polar vessel to Peruvian Navy". janes.com. February 24, 2017.
  8. "Peru receives polar vessel Carrasco". janes.com. March 23, 2017.
  9. "BAP Carrasco (BOP-171) Oceanographic and Polar Research Vessel, Peru". naval-technology.com.
  10. "Peru commissions new polar oceanographic research vessel". navaltoday.com. March 22, 2017.
  11. "Kongsberg Equipment for New Peruvian Navy Research Vessel". subseaworldnews.com.
  12. "President Humala attends launch of Peruvian oceanographic ship in Spain". andina.com.pe. May 7, 2016.
  13. "Peru President leads incorporation ceremony for BAP Carrasco ship". andina.com,pe. May 4, 2017.
  14. "La Marina de Guerra del Perú despliega por primera vez el BAP 'Carrasco' - Noticias Infodefensa América". Infodefensa.com (in Spanish). 5 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  15. "Peru Stands Out in White Continent". dialogo-americas.com. March 13, 2018.
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