RRS Ernest Shackleton
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RRS Ernest Shackleton |
|
Career (UK) | |
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Namesake: | Ernest Shackleton |
Owner: | GC Rieber Shipping AS |
Operator: | British Antarctic Survey |
Builder: | Kverner Klevin Leirvik A/S, Norway |
Launched: | 1995 as the MV Polar Queen |
Homeport: | Stanley, Falkland Islands |
Fate: | in service |
Notes: | [1][2][3] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | DnV +1A1 Icebreaker Ice 05 EO Helidk ICS Dynpos-Autr W1 (Research/Survey/Cargo) |
Displacement: | 4,028 tonnes (Gross) 5,455 tonnes (loaded) |
Length: | 80.0 m |
Beam: | 17.0 m |
Draught: | 6.15 m |
Propulsion: | 2 x Bergen Diesel BRM 6 each 2550 kW |
Speed: | 11 knots (max: 14) |
Range: | 40,000 nautical miles |
Endurance: | 130 days |
Complement: | 72 including crew |
RRS Ernest Shackleton is a Royal Research Ship operated by the British Antarctic Survey. She is primarily a logistics ship used for the resupply of scientific stations in the Antarctic.
Contents |
[edit] History
Launched in 1995 as MV Polar Queen for GC Rieber Shipping AS, she was operated in the Antarctic by other national programmes. The British Antarctic Survey acquired her on a long-term bareboat charter in August 1999 and renamed her RRS Ernest Shackleton after the British polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.[4] She replaced the RRS Bransfield.
[edit] Construction
RRS Ernest Shackleton is ice strengthened with a double hull construction and is capable of a wide range of logistic tasks as well as having a scientific capability. She has a cargo tender "Tula" on deck for ship to shore transfer of equipment when the ship cannot berth alongside.[4]
[edit] Service
RRS Ernest Shackleton is primarily a logistic ship, used for the resupply of the Survey's Antarctic research stations. She loads cargo and science equipment in the Humber and sails to the Antarctic in September/October each year, returning in May/June. After annual refit/drydock, Ernest Shackleton is chartered for commercial survey work for the northern summer.[5]
[edit] See also
- RRS James Clark Ross, another British Antarctic Survey Royal Research Ship.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Technical Data - RRS Ernest Shackleton. British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
- ^ BAS Public Information Leaflet - Ships. British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
- ^ Mike Gloistein. RRS Ernest Shackleton. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
- ^ a b RRS Ernest Shackleton. British Antarctic Survey. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
- ^ BAS Research Ships. BAS. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
[edit] External links
- Image of RRS Ernest Shackleton on the British Antarctic Survey website.
- Ship's current position