SA Agulhas
Encyclopedia
The SA Agulhas is an ice-strengthened research vessel
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
. She was built in 1977, by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Shimonoseki, Japan. The SA Agulhas is South Africa's polar research vessel. The Agulhas is used to service the three South African National Antarctic Programme
South African National Antarctic Programme
The South African National Antarctic Programme is the South African government's program for research in the Antarctic and Subantarctic. Three research stations fall under this program, the Antarctica research station SANAE IV, and two stations named after the subantartic island that they can be...
research bases, Gough Island
Gough Island
Gough Island , also known historically as Gonçalo Álvares or Diego Alvarez, is a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a dependency of Tristan da Cunha and part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
, Marion Island in the Southern Ocean and SANAE IV
SANAE IV
SANAE IV is the current research base of the South African National Antarctic Expedition and is part of the South African National Antarctic Program...
in Antarctica, as well as various research voyages.
The Agulhas is scheduled for retirement in April 2012. An order has been placed with STX Europe for a replacement vessel, which has been named SA Agulhas II
SA Agulhas II
The SA Agulhas II is a South African research icebreaker.Construction of the vessel was initiated by STX Europe in April 2011.Her predecessor, the SA Agulhas is scheduled to retire in March 2012, and the Agulhas II is scheduled to replace her in April 2012.In 2009 the Independent Online reported...
.
Rudder damage
In December 1991 the Agulhas suffered rudder damage while in the Antarctic. The German icebreaker RV Polarstern assisted and by February 1992 the Agulhas as freed from the packice. Once freed, the SAS DrakensbergSAS Drakensberg (A301)
The SAS Drakensberg is a fleet replenishment ship of the South African Navy, with the primary role of assisting and supporting the SAN's combat vessels at sea...
towed the stricken vessel back to Cape Town for repairs.
Rescue of the Magdalena Oldendorff
Agulhas participated in a multinational rescue of the icebreaker Magdalena OldendorffMagdalena Oldendorff
MV Captain Kurbatskiy was a Russian SA-15 class cargo ship originally known as Nizhneyansk after a port of the same name...
during in 2002.
The Magdalena Oldendorff became stuck in the ice during severe weather conditions while en-route from a Russian Antarctic base to Cape Town. The Agulhas and an Argentine icebreaker, the Almirante Irízar
ARA Almirante Irízar (Q-5)
The ARA Almirante Irízar is a large icebreaker of the Argentine Navy. The ship is currently out of service since 2007, when a fire broke out in the auxiliary generator compartment...
, were dispatched to render assistance. On 27 June 2002 the Agulhas was 370 kilometres (229.9 mi) from the Magdalena Oldendorff, close enough for its two Oryx helicopters
Atlas Oryx
The Atlas Oryx is a medium-sized utility helicopter manufactured by the Atlas Aircraft Corporation of South Africa.-Design and development:...
, operated by 22 Squadron
22 Squadron SAAF
22 Squadron is a squadron of the South African Air Force. It is currently a maritime helicopter squadron operating Lynx and Oryx helicopters for the South African Navy.-History:...
, to reach the stricken vessel. By 1 June the Oryx had transferred 89 Russian Antarctic expedition members and Magdalena crew members to the Aghulas and have transferred 2000 kilograms (4,409.2 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.
Death at sea
On 27 September 2007 Ordinary Seaman Edward Hudley was stabbed and killed while the Agulhas was near Gough IslandGough Island
Gough Island , also known historically as Gonçalo Álvares or Diego Alvarez, is a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a dependency of Tristan da Cunha and part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
. Two crew members were accused of murder. 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.
Mission
The Agulhas mission includes regular visits to South Africa's base on Antarctica, and to research stations on Gough IslandGough Island
Gough Island , also known historically as Gonçalo Álvares or Diego Alvarez, is a volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a dependency of Tristan da Cunha and part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha...
and Marion Island.
Retirement
The SA Agulhas is scheduled to retire from icebreaking in March 2012, when its replacement the SA Agulhas II should arrive.According to Engineering News
Engineering News
Engineering News may refer to* Engineering News , a weekly publication in South Africa* Engineering News-Record, a weekly magazine published by The McGraw-Hill Companies...
the communications director of South Africa's
Department of Environmental Affairs Oceans and Coasts 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.
The capability to perform scientific research was added later. The new vessel was designed to perform scientific research.