RRS Ernest Shackleton |
|
| Career (UK) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Ernest Shackleton |
| Owner: | GC Rieber Shipping |
| Operator: | British Antarctic Survey |
| Builder: | Kverner Klevin Leirvik A/S, Norway |
| Yard number: | 267 |
| Launched: | 1995 as MV Polar Queen' |
| Homeport: | Stanley, Falkland Islands |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9114256[1] MMSI Number: 740357000 Callsign: ZDLS1 |
| Status: | in service |
| Notes: | [1][2][3] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Royal Research Ship (Research/Survey/Cargo) |
| Displacement: | 4,028 tonnes (Gross) 5,455 tonnes (loaded) |
| Length: | 80 m (262 ft) |
| Beam: | 17.0 m (56 ft) |
| Draught: | 6.15 m (20 ft) |
| Ice class: | DNV ICE-05 |
| Installed power: | 2 x Bergen Diesel BRM 6 each 2550 kW |
| Propulsion: | Thrusters : 816 Hp x 3 + 1088 Hp x 1 + 1 Azimuth 1088 Hp[1] |
| Speed: | 11 kn (20 km/h), max: 14 kn (26 km/h) |
| Range: | 40,000 nmi (74,000 km) |
| 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 |
Launched in 1995 as MV Polar Queen for GC Rieber Shipping, 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 RRS Bransfield.
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]
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]