R/V Laura Bassi celebrates the first anniversary of the record

One year ago, the R/V Laura Bassi reached the southernmost point ever reached by a ship: an absolute world record, set during the 38th Italian expedition of the National Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA).

The technical and scientific personnel on board reached a previously unexplored location at 78° 44.28 0' south latitude in the Bay of Whales in the Ross Sea to take important samples as part of the scientific project "BIOCLEVER".

The venture was an important opportunity to emphasise the scientific value of the activities on board the Laura Bassi vessel of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics - OGS: In June 2023, the icebreaker returned to Trieste from its record-breaking mission and received the Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini for an official visit, while in October the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella received an OGS delegation led by OGS President Nicola Casagli at the Quirinale.