ARA Canal Beagle

Canal Beagle (B-3) is one of three {{sclass2|Costa Sur|cargo ship|0}}The other ships in the class are the ARA Bahia San Blas and ARA Cabo de Hornos. cargo ships ordered by the Argentine Navy in 1975, designed and built by the Argentine Príncipe, Menghi y Penco shipyard, at Buenos Aires, Argentina. The design is optimised for Patagonic coastal service.{{cite web|url= http://www.histarmar.com.ar/BuquesMercantes/Marina%20Mercante%20Argentina/Transportes/CanalBeagle.htm |title= CANAL BEAGLE |website=Histarmar – Historia y Arqueología Marítima |publisher=Fundación Histarmar |language=es |location=Argentina |access-date=2017-01-18}}

Canal Beagle has a steel hull and the superstructure at the stern, with a single mast and a single funnel atop, behind the bridge; the cargo area is located in the middle of the ship and three “Liebherr” cranes serve the three holds, one each.One 5 ton crane serves hold 1, and two 20 ton cranes serve holds 2 and 3; these can be used simultaneously to provide a 40 ton lifting capacity into either hold 2 or 3. She has a bulk cargo capacity of {{convert|9,700|m3|abbr=on}} or 6,800 tons (e.g.: coal, cereals, live cattle), a refrigerated cargo capacity of {{convert|210|m3|abbr=on}}, and can carry up to 140 containers.{{cite web |url=http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=300 |title=Transportes Clase "COSTA SUR" |website=Armada Argentina – Poder Naval – Flota de Mar -Unidades |publisher=Argentine Navy |language=es |location=Argentina |access-date=2017-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015202018/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=300 |archive-date=2017-10-15 |url-status=dead }}

Canal Beagle is powered by two 6-cylinder Sulzer 6 ZL 40/48 marine diesel engines of {{convert|3200|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=in}} each, driving two variable-pitch propellers; with a maximum speed of {{convert|16.3|kn|km/h|lk=in}}.

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With the ships then operating with “Naval Transport Service” ({{in lang|es}} Servicio de Transportes Navales) approaching obsolescence, the Argentine Navy was authorized (via decree 3/10/1975) to order the local construction of three cargo ships for the southern coastal service. The ships, with hull optimised for Patagonic coastal service, were designed and built by the Argentine Príncipe, Menghi y Penco shipyard, at Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the late 1970s and are denominated the Costa Sur-class.

Canal Beagle, the first ship in her class, was laid down on 10 January 1977 and launched on 19 October 1977. She was commissioned on 29 April 1978 and assigned to the Argentine Navy's Naval Transport Service with pennant number B-3.

In addition to coastal and riverine activities in Argentina, Canal Beagle also operated overseas. In 1989, Canal Beagle helped remove oil from the shipwreck of the polar transport {{ship|ARA|Bahía Paraíso|B-1|6}}, in an effort to reduce pollution in the Antarctic waters.{{cite web|url= http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Armada%20Argentina/Buques1900a1970/BPolares/BPBParaiso.htm |title= Buque Polar A.R.A. "Bahía Paraíso" |website=Histarmar – Historia y Arqueología Marítima |publisher=Fundación Histarmar |language=es |location=Argentina |access-date=2017-01-15}}

In 1992 she transported to the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras, the four Baradero-class patrol boats used under United Nations mandate ONUCA.{{cite web|url= http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Armada%20Argentina/TransportesNavales/ConlaONU.htm |title= COMANDO DE TRANSPORTES NAVALES – Operaciones de paz con la ONU |website=Histarmar – Historia y Arqueología Marítima |publisher=Fundación Histarmar |language=es |location=Argentina |access-date=2017-01-15}}

In 2005, Canal Beagle was part of the naval deployment contributing to the security of the 4th Summit of the Americas ({{in lang|es}} IV Cumbre de las Américas) hold in the Argentine city of Mar del Plata.{{cite web |url=http://www.lanacion.com.ar/753401-confianza-en-el-operativo-de-seguridad |title=Confianza en el operativo de seguridad |website=La Nación – Política |publisher=SA La Nación |date=4 November 2005 |language=es |location=Argentina |access-date=2017-01-18 |archive-date=2017-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118224115/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/753401-confianza-en-el-operativo-de-seguridad |url-status=dead }}

Starting in late 2007, she took part in the Argentine Antarctic Program replacing the icebreaker {{ARA|Almirante Irízar|Q-5|6}} in the resupply of the Argentine bases in Argentine Antarctica.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gacetamarinera.com.ar/nota.asp?idNota=322&idSec=7 |title=Gaceta Marinera Digital © | ARMADA ARGENTINA :: |access-date=2017-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012601/http://www.gacetamarinera.com.ar/nota.asp?idNota=322&idSec=7 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead}}

The ship remains active, participating in an exercise off the coast of Mar del Plata with other Argentine naval units in 2022{{cite web |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202209/604970-taiana-ejercicio-flota-mar-del-plata.html |archivedate=2024-03-03|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20240303105004/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202209/604970-taiana-ejercicio-flota-mar-del-plata.html |title=Taiana supervisó un ejercicio de la flota de mar frente a la costa |work=Télam |language=es |trans-title=Taiana oversaw a sea fleet exercise off the coast |date=15 September 2022 |access-date=16 September 2022}} and in a 2025 exercise with the Argentine Marines.{{cite web |url=https://www.zona-militar.com/2025/04/13/la-brigada-anfibia-de-infanteria-de-marina-de-la-armada-argentina-realizo-un-ejercicio-anfibio-desde-el-transporte-ara-canal-beagle/|title=La Brigada Anfibia de Infantería de Marina de la Armada Argentina realizó un ejercicio anfibio desde el transporte ARA Canal Beagle |website=Zona Militar |language=es |date=13 April 2025 |access-date=14 April 2025}}

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• {{Cite book |last1=Amendolara Bourdette |first1=Ignacio |title=Guia de los buques de la Armada Argentina 2005–2006 |year=2005 |language=es, en |isbn=987-43-9400-5 |location=Buenos Aires, Argentina |url=http://www.ipneditores.com.ar/product_info.php?products_id=142 |access-date=2014-09-13 |archive-date=2014-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913170252/http://www.ipneditores.com.ar/product_info.php?products_id=142 |url-status=dead }}

• {{cite book|last1=Rodríguez |first1=Horacio |last2=Arguindeguy |first2=Pablo |title=Buques de la Armada Argentina: Sus comandos y operaciones. Vol. III |publisher=Presidencia de la Nación, Secretaría de Cultura |language=es}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171015202018/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pag.asp?idItem=300 Argentine Navy official site – Transportes Clase “COSTA SUR”] (accessed 2017-01-18)
• [http://www.histarmar.org/Armada%20Argentina/TransportesNavales/findesiglo.htm Histarmar website – COMANDO DE TRANSPORTES NAVALES – Transportes Navales desde 1970 hasta ahora] (accessed 2017-01-18)
• [http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Armada%20Argentina/FlotadeMar.htm Histarmar website – FLOTA DE MAR 2015] (accessed 2017-01-18)

{{Commons category}}

{{Argentina ship classes}}

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Category:Costa Sur class cargo ships

Category:Transports of the Argentine Navy

Category:Ships built in Argentina

Category:1977 ships