The "Ary Rongel" is the vessel used by the Brazil Antarctic Programme as their main support vessel. It is shown above in thick ice near the Brazilian Antarctic Base of Commandante Ferraz on King George Island.

Note: The above cover bears  the ships cachet of the "Ary Rongel" for the XV111 Antarctic Expedition and the sticker of the Brasil Antarctic Programme. The Brazil stamp has been posted Paquebot in Punta Arenas. The vessel arrived in Punta Arenas on ther 31st December 1999.  The cover is backstamped on arrival in Christchurch on 12 January 2000 and also bears on the reverse a transit mark from Santiago of 3 January 2000.

Note: This cover differs from the previous one only in that the postmarking is January 1st, 2000.

Note: The above cover bears a Brasil stamp cancelled with the 1999-2000 Expedition cachet and with the Base Postmark applied to the left of the envelope. Whilst the cover does not bear any "Ary Rongel" ship markings it would have been carried to and from the base in the vessel and additionally the cancellation from the base shows a penguin and the "Ary Rongel".

The view at right shows the Brasil Antarctic Base "Commandante Ferraz on King George Island in the South Shetlands.

The lack of snow in this view is very unusual even though King George Island is nearly the northern most island in the group.

Note: The above cover has good clear strikes of the large circular Base postmark plus a base cachet at bottom center, the  "Ary Rongel"ship cachet in violet at bottom left and a Brasil Antarctic sticker at top left. It has been backstamped on arrival in Christchurch on 7th March, 2000.

******   2002 - 2003 ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION   ******

Note: This cover has been posted out through the nearby Chilean Eduardo Frei Base and is backstamped on arrival in Christchurch on 5th February, 2003.