Book on Lighthouses for Argentina
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

Mystery of sunken gold cargo in South Atlantic remains locked.

 

                                                           
Punta Medanos lighthouse

Another mysterious chapter for the sunken trawler “Polar Mist” and its cargo of 9.5 tons of gold, which was to be rescued this week from the South Atlantic sea shelf but had to be cancelled following seamen’ s union demands for a participation in the recovery.

 

www.flickr.com artdealer_ar's Lighthouses down in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay photoset

An Argentine federal court in Rio Gallegos has opened a criminal investigation into the alleged “boycott” which frustrated the rescue operation and involved the crew of the Skandi Patagonia, a special multi-functional vessel for oil rigs support which had been contracted by Lloyd’s insurers.

The first reaction of the federal court was to retain the crew and captain of the Skandi Patagonia but they were later released and are back on logistic duties with French Total oil rigs close to the Magellan Strait. However the crew has been summoned to return for questioning.

“The federal court opened a criminal probe regarding the causes which impeded the Skandi Patagonia from sailing for the rescue operation, and crew and vessel were ordered to remain to establish responsibilities”, said Lloyd’s solicitor in Argentina Gustavo Giugale. However later they were released.

The rescue operation involved Mammoet Salvage, London Offshore Consultants and Raul Negro & Co.

The main rescue operation was to be by expert divers which had specific instructions and a questionnaire which would supply data on the sinking of the Polar Mist and its valuable cargo. They were to be supported by the crew of the Skandi Patagonia.

There are growing suspicions that the 16.5 million US dollars cargo might no be at the sea bottom.

Meantime the owners of the cargo, Cerro Vanguardia and Triton (mining companies extracting gold and silver in Santa Cruz Province) are demanding payment for the insured lost cargo.

“As far as we are concerned for us it’s the same whether the cargo exists or not; if not we are certain to collect the insurance and a prudential time has elapsed since January. As to the rest they can do whatever they wish”, said Jorge Palmés from Cerro Vanguardia.

However Lloyd’s insists: “we are going ahead with the rescue operation whatever happens and we have not received any communiqué from the mining companies”, said a source from the insurance corporation.

The precious metal left from Punta Quilla, Santa Cruz for Punta Arenas, Chile, aboard the Polar Mist, as happened regularly several times a month and had been going on for years. From Punta Arenas the metal was flown to Santiago and on to Switzerland.

However last January, 24 hours after leaving port and close to the east entrance of the Magellan Strait the Polar Mist, in the middle of a terrible storm, called for emergency rescue. The crew was rescued and Polar Mist was left to drift and supposedly to sink. However a few hours later the Argentine Coast Guard spots the Chilean vessel Beagle pulling the Polar Mist towards Chile.

They were ordered to return to Rio Gallegos but sometime during the night, Beagle alleging Polar Mist was sinking, cut loose from the former trawler which went down in 70/80 metres deep water, with its precious cargo.

Wait for the next chapter!

Meantime, ............... Read daily Up Dates on Art and Antiques for Buenos Aires, Argentina  http://www.frassinetti.bizArgentina also exports antiques over 100 years old with the help of Bob Frassinetti Read all about the South of South America, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on this link. Updated and new web site, The Buenos Aires Toy Museum, Argentina  www.the-ba-toymuseum.com   Chat some more soon, ................................  Bob Frassinetti. 

 

Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

Mystery "mist" shrouds Patagonia sinking of gold laden ship

This story is still unfolding,....."It's a story of a ship that vanished off the coast of Patagonia with a cargo of gold and silver, but its ending remains shrouded in mystery.The Polar Mist was abandoned by its crew in a storm and sank earlier this year, but did the nine tons of gold and silver aboard worth more than 16 million dollars go down with it?'Nobody knows anything. There is something strange here, but nobody knows what. I've made inquiries everywhere: nobody knows,' said John Wilson, the Argentine representative of the British insurance company Lloyd's.The mining group Cerro Vanguardia, which owns nearly all the gold and silver aboard the Polar Mist, has said the cargo was insured by Lloyd's.'The insurance company has confirmed to us they have every intention of recovering it. They will return the cargo and we will resume the shipment that was interrupted,' said Jorge Palmes, president of Cerro Vanguardia.The cost of recovering the cargo, which went down in waters 75 meters (225 feet) deep, is estimated at three million dollars. It has to be done by the start of autumn in the southern hemisphere, March 21, for it to have a chance of succeeding.'We are not worried. If the insurance company recovers the cargo, we will recover the gold. Otherwise, we are insured,' Miguel Angel Ferro, the president of Fomicruz, a Chilean company that belongs to Cerro Vanguardia.Despite those assurances, each day that passes brings a raft of new questions.Why was the sinking not disclosed until a month after it happened, following an investigation led by a federal judge in Santa Cruz, Gerardo Camano? The judge declined to comment on the case.The gold shipment's route also seems curious. Departing January 14 from Punta Quilla, Argentina, the Polar Mist was supposed to make a stop in Punta Arenas, a port in the southern end of Chile.From there it was to head north to Santiago, where the shipment was to be transferred by air to Switzerland.But a day's sail out of Puerto Quilla, the Polar Mist was overtaken by a powerful storm.Its seven member crew and one passenger asked the Argentine navy to rescue them. But the ship was left adrift for 24 hours until a Chilean tugboat, the Beagle, arrived on the scene.It tried to save the vessel, but failed. The Polar Mist sank 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the coast of Argentina. Was the cargo still on board? Only a salvage operation will tell.Meanwhile, there are a tangle of insurance companies involved.Cerro Vanguardia owns seven tons of the shipment, while the Triton mining company owns the remaining 2.48 tons, according to the Argentine customs.The Argentine company Secure Logistics contracted to transport Cerro Vanguardia's cargo insured it with an Argentine company for 16 million dollars. The Argentine company then re-insured it with Lloyd's.For its part, Triton insured its cargo with insurer Marsh for 1.6 million dollars.Argentina is the 15th largest producer of gold in the world and is on track to be among the top 10 by 2001, according to the ministry of mines, which says gold production is grew 6,000 percent between 2003 and 2008."

   Meantime, ............... Read daily Up Dates on Art and Antiques for Buenos Aires, Argentina  http://www.frassinetti.bizArgentina also exports antiques over 100 years old with the help of Bob Frassinetti Read all about the South of South Amerca, Argentina, chile and Uruguay on this link. Updated and new web site, The Buenos Aires Toy Museum, Argentina    Chat some more soon, ................................  Bob Frassinetti. 

Shipwrecks in the south of South Amerca, by Varlos Pedro Vairo
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

Book on Shipwrecks down South Atlantic,Argentina. Comes in Spanish or in English, title,Naufragios en el cabo de hornos, isla de los Estados, Magallanes, Peninsula Mitre, Malvinas y Georgias del Sud by Lic. Carlos Pedro Vairo.

Shipwrecks a the Cape Horn, Estate island, Magellan, Mitre Peninsula, Falkland islands and southern Georgias by Lic. Varlos Pedro Vairo.

 

Shipwrecks and Lighthoiuses down in South America, a trip to remember .....

Carlos Pedro Vairo is the author to one one of the most interesting and rich in information books on shipwrecks written in Argentina about Argentina and it's history with the sea.

Shipwrecks in Cape Horn, States Island, Magellan straight, Mitre Peninsula, Falkland and southern Georgias islands is the title to this wonderful book. It has been sort of a Bible/Encyclopedia for all of us interested in the history of that southernmost area in the world, the folk behind the facts, the location to several mysteries and fantastic stories on wrecks, crashes, sunk ships.

 

Book on Shipwrecks down South Atlantic, Argentina
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

 

Helmets of the Deep for Sale
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

Cape Saint Anthony, Cabo San Antonio, Punta Rasa
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

So if you are interested in Art, Design or Antiques, and you are travelling to Buenos Aires, Argentina, or to Santiago, Chile or even Montevideo, Uruguay and need to buy and export these items or only need tips and information, please feel free to email us…….Please feel free to contact Bob Frassinetti with thsi email address: Email: Bob Frassinetti.

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Art & Antique Dealer Bob Frassinetti

Bob Frassinetti Copyright 2007 Roberto Dario Frassinett

Shipwrecks in the South Atlantic. Argentina
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks

A new discovery delights shipwrecks passionate. Shipwrecks in the South Atlantic. Argentina

 

Just a couple of days ago, in the lovely beaches of Puerto Madryn archeological experts finally discovered a ship that wrecked in these coasts back in the 19^th century. Apparently this Welsh embankment used for sea wolves’ hunting was set on fire in 1850 and detoured towards the coast because of it.

Experts in sub aquatic archeology, from the National Anthropological Institute are currently analyzing the remains of this wooden ship that have been buried in sand for the last couple of centuries.

The first part of the ship was discovered back in 2003, and it was only during the past week hen the total structure was unveiled in the coasts of New Gulf.

The research work that today is paying off with this amazing discovery was first triggered by an accidental finding back in 2001 when Fernando Coronato, who is part of the Punta Cuevas Association, found a wooden board belonging to this ship when he was strolling along the beachside.

 

The information available so far shows that the wood implied in the construction of the ship is Pine native from the East Coast of the United States. And while the first hypothesis of the anthropologists was that this was an American ship, this is currently under observation, thinking that may be the origin of the ship does not imply the origin of the materials used to build it.

All of the findings are currently being protected from erosion in site, in the meantime the local government decides whether the remains will be transported or conserved in current location.

The area of the New Gulf, alike the waters of the St Joseph Gulf are very famous because of the many shipwrecks that populate their coasts. This is deeply linked to the important economical and colonization traffic that took place back in mid 1800s.

The director of the Sub Aquatic program of archeology Dr Dolores Elkin says that approximately 30 shipwrecks of the area of Chubut were discovered by specialists in recent times and are currently undergoing more research projects.  
 

 
See more information on this Lighthouse trip:Seeking Lighthouse around Argentina. Part I
Topic: Lighthouse Tour
Touring in and around Buenos Aires,docks and building, as well as the River Plate's Martin Garcia Island and the South Atlantic sea coast for a 12 wonderful days of adventure and discovery....
Argentina's lighthouses are a wonderful trademark to this broad and beautiful land. It shouldn't be an other way for a "discovered" territory. It was one of the first constructions to be done when arriving to main land, in order to guide the upcoming travelers, these were rough and precarious, made out of wood and sometimes just a fire on the coast. As those initial ports began to transform into bigger and more important cities, as technology in terms of illumination evolved, these precarious lighthouses began to be transformed and converted into architectural icons, impressive lighthouses, that enlighten the shores of the "new" continent. Serving as important beacons to all sort of ships sailing the waters off the Atlantic coast.

Punta Medanos lighthouse
Perlas Islands Submarine
Lighthouses, Argentina
Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay
Colonia
Jose Ignacio
Book on Shipwrecks

 

Email Bob Frassinetti. The Buenos Aires Art Dealer,Argentina.



Helmets of the Deep for Sale
Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005. Roberto Dario Frassinetti.

Jules Verne Nautilus submarine
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks
Good news about the Panama sunk Nautilus submarine

It all started with a news flash .......
An inside scoop on a story behind the story of the recent discovery in the Panama coastline

Last year we published a couple of articles regarding the discovery of an outstanding shipwreck on the Panama coastline, more precisely in the shores of the San Telmo Island.
The international response to the finding in 2001-2002 of this long thought Japanese Midget Sub from WW2, as a Union Sub never used by the American Civil Army was amazing.
New insightful information has seen the light lately regarding the origin of this gorgeous sub. According to the onsite experts, archeologists and historians of around the world, Julius Kroehl, the mind and hands behind the Nautilus, was a former Union underwater explosive expert discharged from the Army due to his malaria illness. Back in those early days, the US Navy Permanent Commission was reviewing submarine proposals, and Kroehl submitted his design. Rejected because of the complexity and the tremendously high costs involving the construction, Kroehl didn’t give up, and joint ventures with a private enterprise, Pacific Pearl Co with whom he would work and develop the famous ship. Military purposes aside, in 1864 the Nautilus was shipped off the New York Port heading the Panama coastline to hunt pearls underwater. Accurately suited for that purpose hatches in the bottom of the vessel allowed divers to exit the main compartment and explore the seabed. However, the system found gaps and failures, resulting in the death of the crew, including the very own Kroehl, when the decompression failed. 1869 was the end of Nautilus. The sub was abandoned on site of its last harvesting expedition.

More than 130 years after, the sub was found and its story was reconstructed by expert passionate researchers.

The story was brought to life in coordination between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, James Delgado and Director Nacional del Patrimonio Historico of the Instituto Nacional De Cultura (INAC) of Panama who granted the archaeological permit. Mr Delgado is not only a marine archeologist expert but also a TV celebrity, hosting National Geographic International Television's "The Sea Hunters". Their joint work resulted in an incredibly high level of documentation on the wrecked craft.
According to the latest input on the matter, this group of experts is still working on the documentation. At the same time, the experts are evaluating the options regarding the repatriation of the sub for reconstructing and exhibiting purposes. One option is that the Explorer is taken to New York, more precisely to the foot of East Third Street in Brooklyn, where the first dive took place. Another is the Warren Lasch Center in Charleston, where the H. L. Hunley is undergoing conservation for eventual display. And a third possibility is Washington, D.C., home of Kroehl's wife and site of the family home.
Whichever is the final destination to this wonderful Submarine, one thing is for sure, no efforts are spared to recover both the object itself as well as history behind its life and death.


             
Perlas Islands Submarine

So if you are interested in buying Art or Antiques, and you are thinking of travelling to Argentina please feel free to email us…….. Please feel free to contact Flor Rodriquez by emailing her: Email: Flor Rodriguez. or Bob Frassinetti: For more information: Email: Bob Frassinetti. Press here to see all topics on Art, Antiques and Travel Information for Buenos Aires & Argentina:Daily Updates on Art, Antiques, Collectibles as well as travel information for Buenos Aires, Argentina. Phone me thru Skype, ID: Bob Frassinetti or you can also chat with me thru Yahoo, press here:

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Helmets of the Deep for Sale


Diving Helmet Argentina


Helmets of the Deep Collectibles


Book on Shipwrecks
Read The Buenos Aires Art Dealer a e-zine magazine on Art, Antiques & Collectibles from Argentina. The Buenos Aires ArtDealer, Argentina.

East Point Lighthouse Uruguay, Punta del Este Lighthouse
Topic: Lighthouses & Shipwrecks
Lighthouse Tours are arranged on a personal or small group basis. Tours are custom made to fit
your needs and interests. Once you've booked your flight and purchased the tickets we begin to plan your trip. There's no need for all travelers to
book the same lodging, for this is a very personal choice.

Hence we'll provide you with all the necessary information for you to choose among the many and interesting lodgings, from a home styled Bed and Breakfast, to a BOBO hip inn or hotel, to a 5 star accommodation, we handle all reservations and bookings.

For flight booking we highly recommend a Wednesday arrival to Buenos Aires for you to take the best out of your days in Buenos Aires and the amazing
lighthouses we're going to visit.

When we croos the River Plate we woudl travel to Colonia, Montevideo and then Punta del Este. Here is the information for this last stop........


         
East Point Lighthouse Uruguay, Punta del Este Lighthouse


Our next stop is at one of the one of the world’s hottest spots: East Point, or known is Spanish as Punta del
Este. This is one of the most sophisticated beach destinations in the world.
The Punta del Este lighthouse is just as beautiful as the city that hosts
it, for its class and great taste located at the Lat. S Long. W:34?58`08``// 54?57`05`` coordinates.

For more information: Email: Bob Frassinetti. Press here to go back to web blog:Daily Updates on Art, Antiques, Collectibles as well as travel information for Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Email Bob Frassinetti.
The Buenos Aires Art
Dealer,Argentina.



Lighthouses, Argentina

Perlas Islands Submarine
Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005. Roberto Dario Frassinetti.