The icebreaker Laura Bassi crosses the Panama Canal

The icebreaker Laura Bassi is currently on its way to New Zealand to take part in the activities of the 40th Italian research expedition of the National Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA).

Yesterday the ship passed through the Panama Canal and now faces a further week's journey to New Zealand, where it will arrive at the end of November after a voyage of around 50 days. The ship will then start its journey to Antarctica on 9 December, with 28 units of technical and scientific personnel on board and a sailing crew of 23 members, and return to Lyttelton on 19 January. The icebreaker will leave New Zealand again at the end of January and set off on the second part of the Antarctic mission, which will end at the beginning of March 2025.