HMS Protector, a vessel serving the Royal Navy in the South Atlantic and supporting research on the Antarctic continent, is anchored at Pier Maua. On Saturday, the 30th, free and open public visits to HMS Protector will take place from 11am to 3pm. The entrance of groups to the ship, which is subject to capacity, will be according to the order of arrival of the visitors. Children of all ages are welcome. The ship is moored at Pier Mauá, in lanes 37-43. The best access is through Plaza Mauá. The presence of the ship in Brazil reinforces cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of science, technology, defense and security, as well as being part of the celebrations of the final activities of the Brazil-UK Year of Science and Innovation.

Aboard the vessel, the public will be able to understand how an icebreaker on a mission in the Antarctic continent works, to know the structure of the ship, its equipment and technologies used in the work of the crew, including fast rescue boats, vehicles for various terrains and weapons for self-defense.

"HMS Protector is a huge Antarctic facilitator for scientific studies and research. We conduct high definition bathymetric surveys for the safety of seamen in Antarctica and for research on glacial retreat. Another vital role of ours is to provide logistical, ground-based and floating support for science and international research. It is a tremendous privilege to operate in Antarctica with such a capable ship and its Royal Navy crew, "says ship's commander Matt Syrett.

The HMS Protector

The British Royal Navy has been maintaining an Icebreaker Patrol Ship in the Antarctic region for more than 50 years with patrol and rescue missions, monitoring of environmental protocols and supporting the international community present in the area. Some 29 countries maintain scientific bases in the Antarctic continent, including Brazil and the United Kingdom.

HMS Protector is the vessel currently fulfilling this role. Its crew consists of 62 members. Ship activities include refueling of research stations, obtaining bathymetric surveys and hydrographic imagery for the UK Hydrographic Department, which accounts for more than 80% of the world's nautical charting. The ship is under the command of sea captain, Matt Syrett, a seasoned British Royal Navy officer with expertise in hydrography, meteorology and onboard training.

Brazil-United Kingdom Partnerships

The Brazilian and British governments have long-standing cooperation in the areas of defense, security, science and innovation. In the year 2018, important milestones of this history were completed. One was the transfer of HMS Ocean, which was a British Royal Navy vessel and was acquired by the Brazilian Navy and incorporated as PHM Atlantic. The vessel arrived in Rio de Janeiro in August 2018 and is in the final phase of incorporation of the Brazilian fleet. The PHM Atlantic is a helicopter-type vessel, with support capacity for 18 aircraft and 1,295 crew.

The Brazil-UK Year of Science and Innovation is an initiative led by the governments of Brazil and the United Kingdom. The Year was officially launched on March 27, 2018 in Brasilia, at a ceremony at the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications (MCTIC). The activities of the Year will take place between March 2018 and April 2019, and include seminars, exhibitions, lectures, and business and academic missions in both countries.

The project aims to celebrate the excellence of the collaboration between Brazil and the United Kingdom in the most diverse areas of science, also serving as an important platform for the formation of new partnerships. It is an opportunity for scientists, entrepreneurs as well as Brazilian and British companies to celebrate the results achieved and to think about how to deepen collaboration in the face of contemporary global challenges. In particular, four thematic areas have been contemplated: climate & biodiversity; sustainable agriculture; health & life sciences; and energy.

Learn more by visiting the site: www.anodecienciabrasilreinounido.com