Wärtsilä engines for Polar supply and research vessel

It has been this consideration, plus the need for reliability in extreme conditions, that has swung the decision in favour of Wärtsilä 32 engines on a new Polar supply and research vessel that will be owned by South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs and operated by SMIT Amandla Marine of South Africa.

Mr Paananen continued, ‘As it will be operating in extreme conditions, the new vessel will need to be very reliable. It will also have to act as a tanker, because it will need to carry fuel oil for use at the Antarctic base. Every drop of fuel oil in the consumption chain will count.’

The ice strengthened vessel is being built at the STX Finland Oy shipyard in Rauma, Finland, and will be powered by four 6 cylinder in-line Wärtsilä 32 engines. It is to be some 134m long and will have accommodation for 45 crew and about 100 researchers and passengers. Construction began in January 2010 and the vessel will be launched in March 2012. Wärtsilä’s engine deliveries are scheduled to take place in February 2011.

The vessel is being built for research activities and expeditions, but since it will be used to carry equipment and scientists working on the South African National Antarctic Programme, it will also have ice breaking capabilities. Expeditions will take place during the Antarctic summer, starting at the end of December and continuing until the beginning of March. During the remainder of the year, the ship will serve as a supply vessel for three research centres located on Antarctic islands.

As a mobile research facility, the new vessel will be equipped with a laboratory so that scientists can conduct marine research while on board. Weather data for meteorological institutes around the world will also be collected. Classified as a passenger ship, the new vessel will feature some of the facilities found on cruise ships, including comfortable passenger accommodation, a gym, a library and a small hospital. It will also have a shelter and landing area for two Puma class helicopters.

‘This vessel order is one of the biggest single trade agreements ever between Finnish industry and South Africa’, said the shipyard’s director Timo Suistio.

The new vessel will replace the Agulhas, the department’s previous expedition vessel, built in 1982 and equipped with Wärtsilä controllable pitch propellers. The Department also owns a patrol vessel equipped with Wärtsilä main engines and propellers.