The " ITALICA " has served as the main Expedition vessel for the Italian national Antarctic research programme since the V1th Expedition in the 1990-91 season. It is ice strengthened and each year carries south a number of helicopters as deck cargo. It calls into Lyttelton (Christchurch's port) both on the way south and north to exchange cargo and personnel with the Italian Antarctic base depot at Christchurch Airport.
The " ITALICA " arrived at Hobart on December 27th, 2000 to offload supplies for trans-shipment via the French "L'Astrolabe" to the joint French-Italian "Concordia" Base. After two days in Hobart the ITALICA left for Lyttelton arriving in the early hours of 2nd January 2001 after a stormy trans-Tasman crossing. She took on board considerable supplies in Lyttelton plus her scientific party and left for Terra Nova Bay in the Ross Sea in Antarctica on the 5th of January. She will return to Lyttelton on 27th February 2001.
The " ITALICA arrived at Lyttelton on December 27th, 2004 to start the XX Spedizione or 20th Italian Antarctic Programme Season.
www.newzeal.com/steve/Ships/italica.htm
The Italian flagged research/supply ship ITALICA loading stores and jet fuel at Lyttelton. The ship sailed the following day for Terra Nova Bay in Antarctica where the Italians have a research facility.
Report by A. Calvert (11/1/2012)

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