ALMA Antennas Sail for Chile

BBC Chartering continues to handle massive antenna shipments to Chile. The antennas will  be assembled at the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array space observatory, one of the largest cosmic projects in the world. The ALMA observatory is located on the Chajnantor plateau in northern Chile, at an altitude of 5,000 meters.

The antennas were shipped from two locations. BBC began transporting a total of 25 antennas from Aviles in 2009. So far, 16 antennas have sailed from Spain to Antofagasta, Chile, according to a statement from the German heavy-lift fleet operator. The shipments were scheduled as part of BBC’s regular European service to the West Coast of Latin America. BBC will load three more antennas onto its BBC Colorado in mid-December. The remaining six antennas have been scheduled to ship early next year.

An additional 12 antennas shipped from Kobe, Japan to Mejilones, Chile. BBC completed this portion of the ALMA job in October.

When completed at the end of 2012, the ALMA telescope will consist of an array of 66 giant 12-meter and 7-meter diameter antennas. Currently, 26 antennas have been installed.

Photo shows BBC Arizona loading antennas at Avile in Spain. Courtesy of BBC Chartering.