Polar vessel handed over to SA Government

The ice-strengthened vessel is classed by DNV and will be operated by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs. The ship is about 134m long and has accommodation for a crew of 45 and some 100 researchers or passengers. It will operate as a logistic support vessel for the South-African research stations on the Antarctica as well as the Marion and Gough islands, and it is capable of carrying out marine and geological sea floor research. The vessel keeps continuous record of meteorological data for weather services in South Africa. In addition, it can operate in international traffic as a passenger ship carrying around 100 passengers.

”We are proud to deliver this technically high-class multipurpose vessel to the client. The project has offered valuable experience and expertise in the design and building of demanding polar research and supply vessels to the personnel of STX Rauma shipyard and all our partners involved in the project”, explains the director of STX Rauma Shipyard, Toivo Ilvonen.

“It is with honour and pride that we receive the S. A. Agulhas II as planned from STX Finland. An exciting voyage lies ahead of us as we make our way south to the ship’s new home in Cape Town, South Africa. The ship’s sea trials and ice trials went well and she proved to be a good ice going ship. We use the ship to carry scientists and research equipment for the South African National Antarctic Programme in the sea area between South Africa, the Antarctic Islands and Antarctica. The new ship’s ability in ice covered waters will shorten journey times to the Antarctic Ice Shelf and will allow for onboard scientific research in the Southern Oceans during winter months”, says the ship’s Captain Freddie Ligthelm.