S. A. Agulhas II
S. A. Agulhas II is a South African icebreaking polar supply and research ship owned by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries. She was built in 2012 by STX Finland Rauma shipyard in Rauma, Finland, to replace the ageing S. A. Agulhas, which was retired from Antarctic service in April 2012. Unlike her predecessor, S. A. Agulhas II was designed from the beginning to carry out both scientific research and supply South African research stations in the Antarctic.
S. A. Agulhas II at Cape Town Harbour | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| South Africa | |
| Name | S. A. Agulhas II |
| Owner | Department of Environmental Affairs |
| Port of registry | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Ordered | 17 November 2009 |
| Builder | STX Finland Rauma shipyard |
| Cost | 116 million euro |
| Yard number | 1369 |
| Laid down | 31 January 2011 |
| Launched | 21 July 2011 |
| Completed | 3 April 2012 |
| In service | 2012– |
| Identification |
|
| Status | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Polar supply and research vessel |
| Tonnage | |
| Displacement | 13,687 tons |
| Length | 134.2 m (440 ft) |
| Beam | 21.7 m (71 ft) |
| Draught | 7.65 m (25.1 ft) |
| Depth | 10.55 m (34.6 ft) |
| Ice class | Polar Class 5 |
| Installed power | 4 × Wärtsilä 6L32 (4 × 3,000 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 15,000 nautical miles (28,000 km; 17,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew | 45 |
| Aircraft carried | 2 × Atlas Oryx |
| Aviation facilities | Helideck and hangar |
During a voyage to the Weddell Sea in February and March 2022, the Agulhas II served as the mother ship for the Endurance22 Expedition of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust. Using a submersible vehicle, participants in the expedition located the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, at a depth of 11,000 ft (3,400 m) beneath the surface on the floor of Weddell Sea. The Endurance had sunk in 1915 after being crushed by ice.