Welcome to the Antarctic Continent
Navigate with the experts
Previous slide
Next slide
Our Services
SKUAPILOTS will provide high standard assistance in Antarctic navigation advice with experienced Ice Pilots to make your sea voyage a wonderful, safe, unique, and unforgettable life experience. Our ice advisors can support all types of vessels, such as cruise ships, research, logistics and yachts, venturing into the Antarctic waters south of Cape Horn.
Weeks or months before the ship arrives in Antarctica, our team of experts can assist in the planning of the voyage to reach the most attractive points of interest of the white continent. In addition, before sailing through the Drake Passage, our efforts will be oriented to advise the captain to achieve a safe crossing.
OUR CERTIFICATIONS & CLEARANCES
All our ice pilots are fully certified according to IMO STCW Polar Code (7.11 & 7.12 Basic & Advanced Training for ships operating in polar waters, IMO STCW, Table-A-V/4-1 Basic and Table-A-V/4-2 Advanced). In addition, some of our Ice Pilots have served as instructors for these courses, given both in Chile and abroad.
Likewise, with our permanence on board, can be of great support for your Bridge Team and thus reinforce the requirements of the IMO, in the Polar Code Chapter 12, “Manning and Training”. Furthermore, in paragraph 12.3.2, it states the following: “The Administration may allow the use of a person(s) other than the master, chief mate, or officers of the navigational watch to satisfy the requirements for training, as required by paragraph 12.3.1″.
Finally, all our Ice Pilots have the Seagoing Permit as “Senior Ice Advisor” with its corresponding official Seaman’s Book, issued by the Maritime Authority of the Republic of Chile.
In addition, our professionals can also give you the support you may require in the following areas:
SAR (Salvage and Rescue)
Should an emergency or eventuality occur, our pilots are fully familiarized with the support that can be offered by each one of the local bases, carrying out a smooth coordination with the Antarctica Salvage and Rescue Patrol and with the Port Authorities in the Antarctic Peninsula and Cape Horn.
helicopter rescue
Likewise, because of their experience commanding ships with helicopters in the Antarctica, they have a complete knowledge of the air operations that are characteristic of that complex area.
Glaciology & Meteorology
As far as meteorological and glaciological support, our pilots have great expertise to access the best sources of information both in Chilean and in international agencies. Special importance is assigned to the valuable assistance provided by the different bases and Port Authorities that are deployed in the Antarctica as well as in the overall area of Cape Horn. Their data of the real time Antarctic ice and meteorological conditions are vital to make the safest decisions with regards to the routes to take and the moment for each transit.
planning & points of interest (poi)
Our presence and assistance during your voyage, both in the planning and in the daily activities, allows us to provide advice to a vessel captain, with a high level of competence, ensuring that SAFETY is our ruling principle, for the people, for the ship and for the environment, all of which will make your expedition to the Antarctica, an unforgettable adventure. For many years the SKUAPILOTS Team has been selecting the Points of Interest that offer the greatest attractions in the "white continent" and the most favorable routes to access them.
medical advice
Special assistance that may be required, such as helicopters, conferences for passengers, medical help or evacuation and transfers to faraway places can be organized.
Antarctic cartography
It is also worth to mention our Chilean Antarctica mapping availability, both in paper as on CNE to which the UK charts (Admiralty Charts) availability is added.
Drake Passage
It is proven that the Drake Passage is one of the stormiest seas on the planet. Our advisors have the skills to determine the best window to cross to avoid accidents to passengers and crew. Also, during the crossing, they can suggest alternatives access to Antarctica to ensure a safety navigation.
Ice Pilots
Our Ice Pilot´s main competencies are:
- Retired Captains of the Chilean Navy or the National Merchant Marine with a vast experience on board and multiple expeditions in command or advising ships that have operated in Antarctica.
- Many years as authorized maritime pilots by the Chilean government to pilot passenger, cargo, scientific ships and yachts along the extended Chilean channels area.
- Approved courses in Operations on Antarctic waters, certified by Chilean Maritime Authority. In some cases, Instructor for those courses. IMO advanced Polar Code certified, courses 7.11 and 7.12
- Experts in the norms of environmental protection and preservation of the Antarctic continent.
- Fully familiarized with the different and specific supports that can be found in the area. Among all the countries in the world, Chile is the nearest to the Antarctic… we are “locals”.
Francisco Azócar
Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot since 2010; Over 9 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of a CHN patrol ship and icebreaker Almirante Viel. Cap Hornier.
Ricardo García
Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot since 2006; 6 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of icebreaker Almirante Viel.
Roberto Garnham
Authorized Chilean Port and Fjords Pilot since 2006; Over 9 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of a CHN patrol ship and icebreaker Almirante Viel.
Carlos Mackenney
Authorized Chilean and Fjords Pilot; Several Antarctic summer and winter campaigns as Commanding Officer of CHN icebreaker Almirante Viel. Cap Hornier
Pedro Urrutia
14 years as Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot; 5 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of CHN rescue ship Galvarino. Cap Hornier.
José Valdivia
9 years as Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot; Several summer and winter Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of CHN ships Yelcho, Vidal Gormaz and icebreaker Almirante Viel.
Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot since 2010; Over 9 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of a CHN patrol ship and icebreaker Almirante Viel. Cap Hornier.
Authorized Chilean Port and Fjords Pilot since 2006; Over 9 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of a CHN patrol ship and icebreaker Almirante Viel.
14 years as Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot; 5 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of CHN rescue ship Galvarino. Cap Hornier.
Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot since 2006; 6 Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of icebreaker Almirante Viel.
Authorized Chilean and Fjords Pilot; Several Antarctic summer and winter campaigns as Commanding Officer of CHN icebreaker Almirante Viel. Cap Hornier
9 years as Authorized Chilean Fjords Pilot; Several summer and winter Antarctic campaigns as Commanding Officer of CHN ships Yelcho, Vidal Gormaz and icebreaker Almirante Viel.
Rates
Our geographical proximity to Antarctica, will mean less time spent on board, as well as less time and cost in the displacement of our Ice Pilots to the ports of embarkation or disembarkation. This makes our rates highly competitive with respect to other providers of the same service.
Our rates are per voyage, in U.S. dollars, agreed in advance – on a case – by -case basis – because this varies with the duration and degree of difficulty of the Antarctic voyage, the characteristics of the vessel and the idle time spent during the voyage.
06 November 2023:
Our Ice Pilots Carlos Mackenney Sch. and Francisco Azócar N., talked about their operational and navigational experiences in Antarctica to the IMO course 7.12 “INTERNATIONAL ADVANCED TRAINING FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS”, in the Chilean Maritime Instruction and Training Center.
We had the great opportunity to share our experiences with Naval Officers from Argentina, Australia, China, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, Türkiye, UK, USA, and Chile.
25 July 2023:
Proud to have been invited by the Chilean Maritime Instruction and Training Center, to share our navigation experiences in Antarctic waters, to the IMO course 7.12 “ADVANCED TRAINING FOR SHIPS OPERATING IN POLAR WATERS”. We had the opportunity to share our experiences with future officers and Captains certified according to the Polar Code.
30 March 2023:
Skuapilots participated in the Seatrade Cruise Global, Miami 2023 with our CEO and Founder Gerardo Covacevich. There he had the opportunity to have important meetings with authorities of the cruise industry and the international maritime field, to strengthen our ties and common interests.
February 2023:
“A great teamwork took place between two Skuapilots and the bridge team of the MS Balmoral, commanded by Captain Valentin Guiglea. With excellent meteorological conditions, they were able to navigate the beautiful Neumayer Channel, Port Lockroy, Lemaire and the narrow Errera Channel”.
January 2023:
“Two Skuapilots embarked aboard the AZAMARA PURSUIT to advise Captain Mikael Palmroos on a challenging voyage to Antarctica, which included enduring a severe storm in the Bransfield Strait, entering Deception Island and navigating the beautiful Lemaire Channel.
January/March 2023:
A great & unforgettable experience during 4 journeys to Antarctica, aboard the Celebrity Infinity. All Pax´s happy, under the leadership of Captain Loannis Kasimatis.
March 6th, 2020:
“The main tourism authority in Chile, Undersecretary Mónica Zalaquett and her closest collaborators, received SKUAPILOTS, opportunity in which we presented them our project and also offered to help in any instance our advice on Antarctic matters is required”.
January 27th 2020:
SKUA Pilots was invited to participate in the annual meeting of Antarctic Policy Council at our country’s Chancellor’s Office on January 27th 2020 and was represented by two of our Ice Pilots. The event was chaired by the Chancellor Teodoro Ribera, and other authorities present were the Defense Minister Alberto Espina and the Environment Minister Carolina Schmidt. The Chief Commander of the Chilean Navy and the Director General of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine also attended the event.
Contact Us
Antarctica is the most hostile continent in the world. Navigating its waters present very particular difficulties and characteristics. To a geography made up of numerous archipelagos, islands, channels and fjords, large quantities of different types of ice are united. Some ice, permanently generated from the continent, give rise to glaciers, ice barriers or platforms and those characteristic floating masses called icebergs. Others, originated in the freezing of sea water and of quite different properties, form the dynamic “pack ice” that can reach two meters thick. All of the above show the indispensability of having a broad and deep knowledge of the scenario for a safe navigation in these peculiar waters.
Gerardo Covacevich
Founder and General Manager
gcovac@skuapilots.com
Phone: +56 9 99492720
Punta Arenas, Navy Officer (Ret)
and retired authorized pilot with a
28-year experience in the
Patagonian Fjords.
Eugenio Arellano
Operations Manager
earellano@skuapilots.com
Phone: +56 9 98206499
Valparaiso Navy Officer (Ret) who
was the Head of the Pilotage
Office of the Chilean Directorate
General of the Maritime Territory
for 12 years.
