| Career (South Africa) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | S.A. Agulhas |
| Builder: | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Laid down: | 1977 |
| Status: | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | LRS Ice Class 1 |
| Tonnage: | 6,123 tons [1][2] |
| Displacement: | 1,837 tons [1] |
| Length: | 111.95 m (367.3 ft) [1][2] |
| Beam: | 18.05 m (59.2 ft) [1][2] |
| Draught: | 6 m (20 ft) [1] |
| Installed power: | 4,476 kW (6,002 hp)[2] |
| Propulsion: | 2x Mirrlees Blackstone KMR6 [1] |
| Speed: | 12.5 kn (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) (Cruise) 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) (Max)[2] |
| Range: | 15,000 nmi (28,000 km; 17,000 mi)[2] |
| Endurance: | 90 days[2] |
| Complement: | 138[2] |
| Crew: | 40[2] |
| Aircraft carried: | 2 x Atlas Oryx |
S.A. Agulhas is an ice-strengthened research vessel. She was built in 1977, by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Shimonoseki, Japan. The S.A. Agulhas is South Africa's polar research vessel. The S.A. Agulhas is used to service the three South African National Antarctic Programme research bases, Gough Island, Marion Island in the Southern Ocean and SANAE IV in Antarctica, as well as various research voyages.
The S.A. Agulhas is scheduled for retirement in April 2012. An order has been placed with STX Europe for a replacement vessel, which has been named S.A. Agulhas II.[3][4][5]
Contents |
In December 1991 the S.A. Agulhas suffered rudder damage while in the Antarctic. The German icebreaker RV Polarstern assisted and by February 1992 the S.A. Agulhas as freed from the packice. Once freed, the SAS Drakensberg towed the stricken vessel back to Cape Town for repairs.[6][7][8]
S.A. Agulhas participated in a multinational rescue of the icebreaker Magdalena Oldendorff during in 2002.[9] The Magdalena Oldendorff became stuck in the ice during severe weather conditions while en-route from a Russian Antarctic base to Cape Town. The S.A. Agulhas and an Argentine icebreaker, the Almirante Irízar, were dispatched to render assistance. On 27 June 2002 the S.A. Agulhas was 370 kilometres (230 mi) from the Magdalena Oldendorff, close enough for its two Oryx helicopters, operated by 22 Squadron,[10] to reach the stricken vessel. By 1 June the Oryx had transferred 89 Russian Antarctic expedition members and Magdalena Oldendorff crew members[10] to the Aghulas and have transferred 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) of supplies to the remaining crew. The crew remaining on the Magdalena were to await the arrival of the Almirante and attempt to free the Magdalena.[11]
On 27 September 2007 Ordinary Seaman Edward Hudley was stabbed and killed while the S.A. Agulhas was near Gough Island. Two crew members were accused of murder.[12] The environmental protection vessel Sarah Baartman was dispatched and took custody of the two accused and the deceased's body on 3 October 2007. Both accused were charged with murder on arrival in Cape Town, but all charges were dropped on 6 April 2009.[13]
The Agulhas mission includes regular visits to South Africa's base on Antarctica, and to research stations on Gough Island and Marion Island.[14][15]
The S.A. Agulhas is scheduled to retire from icebreaking in March 2012, when its replacement the S.A. Agulhas II should arrive.[3][4][5] According to Engineering News the communications director of the Oceans and Coasts Branch of the Department of Environmental Affairs has announced that several other government agencies have requested the vessel's transfer. Engineering News reported the vessel can be insured for a further two years.
According to Engineering News the first vessel was not designed to carry out scientific research, just icebreaking.[5] The capability to perform scientific research was added later. The new vessel was designed to perform scientific research.
|
||||||||