AO-53 Araucano

The "Slethav" was a tanker built in Sweden by shipyards Uddevallavarvet in 1984. In 1989, he was acquired by the company Ultragas and baptized with the name of b/t "Alpaca". He was inducted into the Navy of Chile on 17 December 2010. In the history of the institution, there have been five ships with the name "Araucano", currently, having as main role, the reordering of the naval units in the sea through maneuvers of refueling at sea. Characteristics of construction with double bottom and the compartimentaje of their ponds, allows complinace with regulations with respect to agreements and international regulations.

With the hoisting of the national flag, the full Bunting and pennant in command of the first Commander of the unit, the ceremony of incorporation into the service of the AO 53 "Araucano", which took place on the deck of the ship, which was docked in the sector of the Molo 500 of the Base Naval de Talcahuano, the morning was sealed on 17 December 2010. The event was presided over by the General Director of the services of the Navy, Vice Admiral Federico Niemann Figari, who read out presidential decree that incorporates the naval list to the tanker and appoints the captain of Fragata Luis Hernández Soto, as its first Commander. On the occasion, the Hernández Commander stressed that the incorporation of a new unit to the naval list is always a subject of pride, joy and satisfaction for the institution "ships are the reason being critical of a Navy, since they embodied their existence and give continuity to its mission, traditions and legacies".

The incorporation of the AO 53 "araucano" materialized the institutional aspirations of having a second tanker for support of the fleet, which will complement the capabilities of logistical support at sea, mainly resting on the 52 AO "Almirante Montt". The "new" Araucano" added to the naval list does not constitute replacement of the "Almirante Montt" AO. This adds capabilities, satisfying and fulfilling platform of institutional logistics and operational planning needs; to represent us in the long-awaited recovery of old Navy capabilities, since for several decades it had two oil tankers to support of the Squadron.

This tanker was acquired on June 14, 2010, date in which signed the contract of purchase with shipping company Ultragas Ltda. Its history goes back to the year 1984 when it started its construction in the shipyards Uddevallavarvet, in Sweden, and a year later was released to water and baptized with the name "Slethav". Then to be bought by Ultragas was called b/t "Alpaca".

AO 53 "araucano" with a length of 156,35 meters, a beam of 23.10 meters, a draft of 10,157 meters and a displacement of 12,561 tons register is a ship of the DNV (oil tanker) class, with capacity to carry 22 thousand cubic meters of different products in their ponds of load (segregated ballast, fuel oil, diesel oil, water drink) and has great versatility in the transfer of transport fuels, "which added to the future station of replenishment at sea which we will install briefly, will allow the Navy increase its ability to operate at sea for long periods far away from the logistical support bases on land. Dduring the development of this project, it has given birth to a true tanker fleet, which had been joined capabilities requiring a naval unit. Characteristics of construction with double bottom comply with regulations with respect to agreements and international regulations.

This unit which will take as a base port Valparaiso, has a crew consisting of 56 persons, 14 officers and 42 seafarers, group which in June began the recovery, adaptation and navalizacion of the ship, while he was on the tour at the Bay of Concepción. Now starts the phase for installing structure and maneuvers for refueling station and in parallel with the training of staffing, to comply with the standards of operational safety and efficiency.