Chilean transport Piloto Pardo

Piloto Pardo was a Chilean Navy auxiliary ship from 1959 until 1997. After decommissioning she was converted to an Antarctic expedition cruise ship and operated as such until 2012 under the name MV Antarctic Dream.[6]

MV Antarctic Dream in the port of Ushuaia (2013)
History
Chile
NamePiloto Pardo (AP-45)
NamesakeLuis Pardo
BuilderHaarlemsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Haarlem, Netherlands[1]
Launched11 June 1958[2]
Commissioned7 April 1959[3]
DecommissionedJanuary 1997[3]
FateSold into commercial service, 1998
Name
  • Hotu Matua (1998-2003)
  • Antarctic Dream (2003-2012)
Owner
  • Orlando Paoa, Easter Island, (1998-2003)
  • Antarctic Shipping SA, Chile (2003-2012)
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics [5]
TypePolar cruise ship
Tonnage2,180 GRT
Length83 m (272 ft 4 in) o/a
Beam11.9 m (39 ft 1 in)
Draught4.6 m (15 ft 1 in)
Ice class1A
PropulsionDiesel-electric, 1,850 kW (2,481 hp)
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity80 passengers
Crew43
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

Ship history

The vessel was built for the Chilean Navy by the Haarlemsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij ("Haarlem Shipbuilding Company") of Haarlem, Netherlands, launched on 11 June 1958, and commissioned on 7 April 1959. She was constructed specifically for servicing the scientific bases established in the Chilean Antarctic Territory. The ship measures 83 meters overall length and 11.9 meters wide, with a gross tonnage of over 2,000 metric tons and a draught of 4.60 meters, with an ice-strengthened hull for polar navigation. The ship was christened Piloto Pardo, after Luis Pardo, the captain of the cutter Yelcho, which rescued the stranded men of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance Expedition from Elephant Island, Antarctica, in August 1916.

She was decommissioned in January 1997.

In 1998 she was sold to Orlando Paoa of Easter Island, and renamed Hoto Matua. In 2003 she was sold to Antarctic Shipping SA and converted into an Antarctic cruise ship in the Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada Chilena (ASMAR) shipyard, and renamed Antarctic Dream.[2] The refurbishing allowed a capacity of 80 passengers; 40 double cabins, all with exterior views.

On 4 December 2008, the ship MV Ushuaia grounded at position 64°35.5'S 62°25'W, at the entrance of Wilhelmina Bay, near Cape Anna. The Antarctic Dream was the first vessel on the scene to assist passengers. Other vessels to assist were the National Geographic Explorer, Professor Multanovskiy and Polar Star.[7][8]

Antarctic Shipping SA suspended operations in July 2012.[9]

The boat complies with MARPOL and is ISM and ISPS certified. Antarctic Shipping SA was a member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO).

The ship was operated by Oceanwide Expeditions[10] in Arctic waters, and by tour operators Adventure Smith Explorations, Adventure Life, Southern Explorations, Explore! in Antarctica.

Since 2019 the ship was used as a sleeping and working place for UN personal during the UNMHA mission in Yemen, stationed in the harbor of Hodeida. In May 2020 the Antarctic Dream left Hodeida in regard of the security situation, heading towards Amman (Jordania).

References
  1. "Chilean polar transport vessel, Piloto Pardo". Polar Record. 10 (64): 78. January 1960. doi:10.1017/s0032247400050750. S2CID 251050632.
  2. Mey, Carlos J.; Galdeano, Miguel A. (2012). "Piloto Pardo". Historia y Arqueología Marítima. Archived from the original on 29 December 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012. (in Spanish)
  3. Aguirre Vidaurre-Leal, Carlos (March 2007). "Marinos Chilenos en Holanda" [Chilean Sailors in Holland] (PDF). Revista de Marina. Retrieved 5 October 2012. (in Spanish)
  4. "Antarctic Dream - Details and Current Position". marinetraffic.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  5. "Antarctic Dream Technical Description". Antarctic Expeditions. 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  6. "MV Antarctic Dream". antarcticdream.com. 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  7. "Situation Report on MV Ushuaia". International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators. December 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  8. Sloan, Gene (December 2008). "Expedition ship carrying Americans runs aground in Antarctica". USA Today. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  9. Smith, Todd (18 July 2012). "Antarctic Shipping Suspends Antarctic Dream Cruises". Adventure Cruise News. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  10. "Arctic & Antarctica Cruises". oceanwide-expeditions.com. 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.


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