The icebreaker Laura Bassi sets course for New Zealand

The icebreaker Laura Bassi, owned by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS, left Ravenna yesterday afternoon, where it completed the loading of scientific instruments and materials for the new scientific campaign of the National Research Program in the Antarctic (PNRA).  

The vessel carried out its first scientific campaign in the Arctic in mid-September and is now ready to take part in the next Italian expedition to Antarctica. The icebreaker will follow the shortest route through the Suez Canal, skirting Sri Lanka and then southern Australia until it arrives, after 42 days at sea, in Lyttelton, New Zealand. 

The Laura Bassi will take part in PNRA's 37th Antarctic campaign, financed by the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) and managed by ENEA for planning and logistical organisation, and by CNR for programming and scientific coordination.