Welcome to the Antarctic Continent
Navigate with the experts
Our Services
SKUAPILOTS will provide high-quality Antarctic navigational support with experienced ice advisors to make your voyage a wonderful, safe, unique, and unforgettable life experience. Our ice advisors can assist all types of vessels, such as cruise ships, research vessels, logistics vessels, 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 planning the voyage to reach the most attractive points of interest on the white continent. In addition, before sailing through the Drake Passage, our efforts will be focused on advising the captain to achieve a safe passage.
OUR CERTIFICATIONS & CLEARANCES
All our ice advisors are fully certified according to the 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 advisors have served as instructors for these courses, both in Chile and abroad.
Likewise, with our permanence on board, we can be of great support to your bridge team, thus reinforcing the requirements of the IMO, in the Polar Code Chapter 12, “Manning and Training”. In addition, paragraph 12.3.2 states: “The Administration may permit the use of a person or persons other than the master, chief mate, or navigational watch officer to satisfy the training requirements of paragraph 12.3.1″.
Finally, all of our ice advisors have the title of “Senior Ice Advisor” in the Seagoing Permit with the corresponding official seaman’s book, issued by the Maritime Authority of the Republic of Chile.
In addition, our professionals can provide you with the support you need in the following areas:
SAR (Salvage and Rescue)
In the event of an emergency or contingency, our pilots are fully familiar with the support that can be provided by each of the local bases, ensuring smooth coordination with the Antarctic Salvage and Rescue Patrol and the Port Authorities of the Antarctic Peninsula and Cape Horn.
helicopter rescue
Similarly, having commanded ships with helicopters in Antarctica, they have a complete knowledge of the air operations that characterize this complex area.
Glaciology & Meteorology
In terms of meteorological and glaciological support, our pilots have great expertise in accessing the best sources of information, both in Chilean and international agencies. Of particular importance is the valuable assistance provided by the various bases and port authorities located in the Antarctic and around Cape Horn. Their real-time data on Antarctic ice and meteorological conditions are essential for making the safest decisions on the routes to take and the timing of each transit.
planning & points of interest (poi's)
Our presence and assistance during your voyage, both in the planning and in the daily activities, allows us to provide a captain's advice with a high level of competence, ensuring that SAFETY is our guiding principle, for people, for the ship and for the environment, all of which will make your expedition to Antarctica an unforgettable adventure. For many years, the SKUAPILOTS team has been selecting the most interesting sites on the "White Continent" and the best routes to reach them.
medical advice
Special assistance that may be required, such as helicopters, passenger conferences, medical assistance, or evacuation and transfer to distant locations, can be arranged.
Antarctic cartography
It is also worth mentioning our Chilean Antarctic chart availability, both in paper and on CNE, to which is added the availability of UK charts (Admiralty Charts).
Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is known to be one of the stormiest seas on the planet. Our consultants have the skills to determine the best window to cross in order to avoid accidents to passengers and crew. They can also suggest alternative access to Antarctica during the crossing to ensure safe navigation.
Ice Pilots
The main competencies of our Ice Advisors are:
- Retired captains of the Chilean Navy or the National Merchant Marine with extensive experience on board and several expeditions in command or as advisors to ships operating in the Antarctic.
- Many years as pilots authorized by the Chilean government to pilot passenger, cargo, scientific vessels, and yachts in the extended Chilean waterways.
- Approved courses in operations in Antarctic waters, certified by the Chilean Maritime Authority. In some cases, instructors for these courses. IMO Advanced Polar Code certified, courses 7.11 and 7.12
- Experts in the norms of environmental protection and conservation of the Antarctic continent.
- Fully familiar with the different and specific resources that can be found in the area. Of all the countries in the world, Chile is the closest to Antarctica… 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 & FEES
Our geographic proximity to Antarctica means less time on board, as well as less time and expense in moving our ice advisors to and from ports of embarkation and disembarkation. This makes our rates highly competitive with other providers of the same service.
Our rates are per voyage, in U.S. dollars, and are agreed upon in advance—on a case-by-case basis—as they vary with the duration and difficulty of the Antarctic voyage, the characteristics of the vessel, and the idle time during the voyage.
6/11 March 2025:
Elephant Island, Antarctic Sound, Gerlache Strait, Cuverville Island, Neumayer Channel, Port Lockroy, LeMaire Channel, were some of the excellent points of interest that MS Oosterdam, under the command of Captain Kevin Beirnaert, developed. Our SKUA Pilot joined the bridge team and did a great job with them, working together.
12 January 2025:
Great meeting with the captain of MS “Villa Vie Odyssey”, Capt. “Val” Giuglea. As the former captain of MS “Balmoral”, he led the extraordinary voyage to Antarctica in February 2023. During this voyage, strong professional and friendship bonds were forged between him and his crew and the Skua pilots who embarked on this remarkable occasion.
3 July 2024:
Several Skua pilots, as former commanders of the old icebreaker “Viel”, were invited to the commissioning of the new icebreaker “Almirante Viel” of the Chilean Navy. This vessel was completely built at the ASMAR shipyard in Talcahuano, Chile. Its great capabilities left us amazed and proud of the great work done by the Chilean workforce.
7 April 2024:
During the last port call of the MS ‘Celebrity Eclipse’ in Valparaiso, Chile, its captain, Captain Michael Sympouras, was kind enough to invite our CEO and founder Gerardo Covacevich on board. During this pleasant meeting, we had the opportunity to reminisce about the good times we had on board, share our sailing experiences in Antarctic waters, and explore more alternatives for guests to have a breathtaking experience on the frozen continent.
January/ March 2024:
A great and unforgettable experience during 4 journeys to Antarctica, aboard the Celebrity Eclipse. Very good work by the Skua Pilots with the Bridge Team, under the leadership of Capt. Michael Sympouras. The guests enjoyed the amazing scenery of Paradise Bay, the Gerlache Strait, Elephant Island, and the amazing marine life.
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”.
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 & Chairman Of The Board
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
General 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.
Carlos Mackenney
Operations Manager
earellano@skuapilots.com
Phone: +56 9 93288834
Valparaiso Navy Officer (Ret)
Several Antarctic summers and
winter campaigns as CO
of Chilean Icebreaker
Almirante Viel.
Ice Advisor from 2019
Cap Hornier.
