RV Araon

Career
Name: RV Araon
Operator: Korea Polar Research Institute, South Korea
Builder: Hanjin Heavy Industries, Yeongdo shipyard, Busan[1]
Cost: 108 billion won[2]
Laid down: May 2008[3]
Launched: June 11, 2009[1]
Completed: September 2009[4]
Homeport: Incheon, South Korea
Status: in service
General characteristics
Class and type:

KRS1-Special purpose ship (Research vessel)

PL10, DAT (-30 deg. C), HMS1, KRM1-UMA3, DPS2, NBS2[4]
Tonnage: 7847 (GRT)[3]
Length: 109.5 m[4]
Beam: 19.0 m[4]
Height: 9.9 m[4]
Installed power: 10 MW (2 * 5 MW)[3]
Propulsion: Diesel Electric, two azimuth thrusters (main propulsion), two bow thrusters[3]
Speed: 12 kn (22 km/h)
Endurance: 20,000 nmi (37,000 km) or 70 days[4]
Boats and landing
craft carried:		 10 m barge capable of carrying 20 ft (6.1 m) container
7 m work boat[3]
Capacity: 31 TEU on deck, 15 TEU in cargo hold[3]
Complement: 25 Crew and up to 60 Scientific Personnel[4]

The RV Araon is a large icebreaker operated by the Government of South Korea.[5] The vessel was commissioned in 2009. She supplies the King Sejong Station, and will supply the Jang Bogo Station, South Korea's second planned Antarctic research station.

She underwent her sea trials in January 2010, in the Ross Sea.[6][7] Her first foreign port of call was Lyttelton, New Zealand.[8][9][10]

The first location her crew investigated, for a South Korean Antarctic base, in the Cape Burks area, was not deemed suitable, and she then investigated the selected site in Terra Nova Bay.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ a b "HHIC launches ARAON, the first Korean-made icebreaking research vessel". Hanjin Heavy Industries. http://www.hanjinsc.com/eng/pr/notice/notice_view.aspx?noticeID=128&SearchField=&SearchWord=. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 
  2. ^ "ARAON research ice breaker". KOPRI. http://www.kopri.re.kr/english/eng_infra/eng_araon_intro/eng_araon_intro.cms. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Korean Icebreaker 'Araon'". KOPRI. http://www.go-ship.org/Docs/Korean_Icebreaker_ARAON.pptx. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "ARAON Korean Research Icebreaker". KOPRI. http://www.go-ship.org/Docs/AraonBrochure.pdf. Retrieved 2011-05-20. 
  5. ^ Yonn Gong (2010-01-12). "S. Korean icebreaker begins first Antarctic voyage". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.yonhapnews.co.kr%2Fbusiness%2F2010%2F01%2F12%2F8%2F0502000000AEN20100112001600320F.HTML&date=2010-01-14. 
  6. ^ "Korean Icebreaker to visit Lyttelton on its maiden voyage". Scoop Independent News. 2010-01-06. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scoop.co.nz%2Fstories%2FAK1001%2FS00025.htm&date=2010-01-14. 
  7. ^ "Breaking the ice". Joongang Daily. 2010-01-27. Archived from the original on 2010-02-18. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjoongangdaily.joins.com%2Farticle%2Fview.asp%3Faid%3D2915836&date=2010-02-18. "The Araon arrived in Cape Burks on the 24th to research the area’s weather and ice conditions, and will conduct ice-breaking tests for 10 days to assess whether it can be officially designated as an icebreaker." 
  8. ^ a b "Korean icebreaker ready to explore Antarctic station candidate site". Korea Herald. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2010-02-18. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreaherald.co.kr%2FNEWKHSITE%2Fdata%2Fhtml_dir%2F2010%2F02%2F01%2F201002010092.asp&date=2010-02-18. "The 7,487-ton icebreaker and research ship left Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan. 12. On Saturday it completed its survey of the Cape Burks area and began sailing toward Terra Nova Bay." 
  9. ^ a b "Korean Icebreaker Succeeds in Antarctic Mission". Chosun Ilbo. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2010-02-18. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.chosun.com%2Fsite%2Fdata%2Fhtml_dir%2F2010%2F02%2F01%2F2010020100841.html&date=2010-02-18. 
  10. ^ Choi Won-young (2004-02-04). "Araon Crew Members Explore Icebergs in Antarctica". Arirang. Archived from the original on 2010-02-18. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arirang.co.kr%2FNews%2FNews_View.asp%3Fnseq%3D99871%26code%3DNe2%26category%3D2&date=2010-02-18.