by InTrieste
After an unexpected mechanical failure forced a mid-journey return, the Italian research icebreaker Laura Bassi is once again on course to Antarctica, embarking on its 40th mission as part of the National Antarctic Research Program. The vessel departed the port of Lyttelton at 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, equipped with a crew of 23, technical staff, a medical officer, and a Colombian biologist.
The mission had initially launched on December 15 but was interrupted just two days later when the ship experienced a malfunction in its port engine roughly 300 miles south of New Zealand. The Captain made the decision to return to Lyttelton, where repair efforts began immediately. After thorough testing, the Laura Bassi has resumed its journey, much to the relief of the team and the mission’s backers.
This expedition is funded by Italy’s Ministry of University and Research and is part of a collaborative effort between the National Research Council (CNR), which oversees scientific coordination, the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), responsible for logistics, and the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS), which manages the vessel.
The Laura Bassi is slated to reach Italy’s Mario Zucchelli Station in Antarctica on January 11. Once there, the team will spend three to four days loading supplies and preparing for the next phase of the mission. A second voyage to Antarctica, focusing primarily on oceanographic research, is set to follow immediately. Despite the unexpected delay, the mission’s schedule remains largely intact.
The expedition marks another chapter in Italy’s long-standing commitment to Antarctic research, underscoring its contributions to global scientific efforts in one of the world’s most extreme environments.
For live updates on the journey of the Laura Bassi:
Visit https://laurabassi.ogs.it/.
