Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Sancar

On December 1, the vessel 'Sophie Siem' made its way back to the port of Comodoro Rivadavia, where it successfully unloaded the mini submarine it had been transporting. With the difficult decision made to cease the rescue efforts for the 44 crew members aboard the ARA 'San Juan', the ship's presence was deemed unnecessary. The 'Sophie Siem' had been specially modified to accommodate the U.S. mini submarine, which was initially intended for deployment should the ARA 'San Juan' be located during the search operations.

In a remarkable display of maritime coordination, the 'Sophie Siem' has been swiftly prepared for the urgent search of the missing submarine 'San Juan.' Argentine personnel, alongside specialists from the United States Navy, worked tirelessly around the clock to ensure the ship's readiness. Within 24 hours, it is expected to reach the seabed where the submarine tragically sank. Prior to this, on November 21, the 'Skandi Patagonia' had set sail for the Gulf of San Jorge, initiating the search efforts. The challenge lay in adapting the 'Sophie Siem' for the ROV provided by the U.S. Navy. After several days of intensive preparations, which included the removal of the stern platform and the installation of a specialized hydraulic platform allowing for the ROV's deployment, the vessel finally embarked on its crucial mission on November 26. Comodoro Rivadavia has become the nerve center for this rescue operation, with local and provincial authorities, including Favio Cambareri (Port Administrator) and Rubén Palomeque (Secretary of Community Services), collaborating with American, British, and Russian teams that have set up accommodations in local hotels. Urgently, around 50 welders were summoned to aid this effort. The 'Sophie Siem' is currently crewed by 15 members of its own team, alongside 43 U.S. Navy personnel tasked with ROV operations, supplemented by two Argentinian crew members. Port Captain Carlos Ortogueira shared that the ship's departure was a testament to the dedication of countless individuals who worked together to ensure the readiness of the expedition's equipment, which entailed moving 750 tons of cargo via 15 aircraft. Looking ahead, two additional vessels are expected at the port: the Argentine Navy's 'ARA Islas Malvinas,' carrying cargo from an Antonov 124 aircraft, and the Uruguayan ship 'Didi K.' Furthermore, the Russian oceanographic research vessel 'Yantar,' which features both manned and autonomous submersibles capable of diving up to 6,000 meters, is on its way to the identified search area. The Antonov aircraft, which paused at Comodoro Rivadavia en route to Ushuaia, also delivered Phantera Plus equipment, an unmanned device operational at depths of up to 1,000 meters, which will be transferred to the search zone by the corvette ARA 'Rosales.'