Argentina's San Juan Submarine 'Short On Food, Air Supplies'

Lawyers prosecuting the case of Argentina's missing ARA San Juan submarine, which disappeared from radars on November 15 last year with all 44 crew on board, claim the vessel lacked sufficient food and oxygen supplies necessary to survive an emergency.

RELATED: 
Crew of Argentine San Juan Submarine 'Endured Hours of Agony'

Prosectur Valeria Carrera reached the conclusion based on a report presented in Congress by the current head of the Cabinet of Ministers, Marcos Peña. 

The vessel needed to carry sufficient supplies to last seven days for all 44 crew members, but the supplies on board were not enough for everyone, according to the report.

The report concluded that the submarine had "240 units of mixed preserves, emergency rations, in thermosealed flavors;" 240 half-liter bottles of Gatorade energy drink, and two cereal bars plus two chocolate bars for every crew member.

Based on the documents submitted in the case, Carrera estimated that although the supplies covered seven days, they were adequate to feed "only 34 crew members – ten less than the missing crew," said the lawyer.

Air and escape suits also failed to meet the minimum requirements, Carrera continued. There were 600 fewer canister filters – used to avoid contamination by carbon dioxide – than the minimum recommended by the ship's manufacturer, and most had already expired. 

In addition, "they also carried 24 OR 3000 oxygen devices (commonly called candelas), for the provision of six days of emergency oxygen, when the manufacturer of the submarine stipulates 100," said Carrera.

Months before the submarine's ill-fated final voyage, San Juan Commander Pedro Martin Fernandez put in a series of claims with the Argentine Navy, including for canned food and boned chicken. Commander Fernandez also raised the fact that crew members had to buy drinks themselves to compensate for the short supply.