Captain Arturo Prat Navy Station Laboratories, CL

Captain Arturo Prat Base (Spanish: Base Naval Antártica “Arturo Prat”) is a Chilean Antarctic research station located at Iquique Cove, Greenwich Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica.

It is the oldest Chilean Antarctic station. Until March 1, 2006, it was a base of the Chilean Navy, on which date it was handed over to the regional government of Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region. Since 2004 it serves as a summer base for ionospheric and meteorologic research. It is funded by the Antarctic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.

Science disciplines: Antarctic ecosystem, climate change, biotechnology.

Contribution to POLARIN key research challenges:1 ,3,4,5, 6

Contact:Andrés López Lara      alopez[at]inach.cl

WebsiteÂhttps://www.inach.cl/expedicion-antartica/bases-chilenas-en-antartica-2/base-naval-arturo-prat/

Facilities

The station’s surroundings allow the development of activities related to geology, marine biology, and sedimentology. PRAT has a small laboratory with basic equipment.

The building can receive 8 scientists between December and March every year.  
Staff Capacity: Technicians +scientists: 8 people. 
Facilities: It has a wet laboratory, a multipurpose laboratory and one zodiac.

Equipments: Class II laminar flow hood suitable for microbiology workflows. Autoclave 80L suitable for material preparation. 200L drying oven compatible with material drying or incubation at temperatures above 30ºC. 
Communications: Phone and radio communication inside the Prat station, InReach outside.

Services offered:

PRAT offers accommodation, meals, laboratories, and zodiacs for taking samples. It’s not commonly used by international researchers.

What is included in the Access

Unit of access: User/day

Modalities of access offered: In-person access, remote access

A user day includes the accommodation, all meals and access to the laboratories. The typical duration of work is between 15 and 30 days. The researchers will join the team of station researchers, being part of the station’s logistical arrangements to meet the scientific objectives of each project.

Availability for access in the 2024 call

Not available in the TA Call 2024.

Time frame for access preparations

Time frame to receive the documentation from RI users (after access is granted):  Three months before the travel. 
Time frame for logistic arrangements to access the RI:  One month before the travel.

Permits, licenses and training

Driving License and ZAEPs authorization.

Medical guidelines

Health certificate for extreme zones.