RRS Ernest Shackleton was returned to her owners, Norwegian shipping company G C Rieber Shipping on 30 April 2019, after 20 years of polar duties for BAS. Find out more here.
RRS Ernest Shackleton (ES), was primarily a logistics vessel used to transport cargo, fuel and passengers. The ship also has a basic scientific capability and undertakes some research work. During the northern summer, the ES is commercially chartered and usually works in the North Sea.
The ship was built by Kverner Klevin Leirvik A/S, Norway for GC for Rieber Shipping, and launched in 1995 as the MV Polar Queen. She was acquired by BAS in Aug 1999 under a long-term charter arrangement and registered in the Falkland Island on 30 Sep 1999. Her maiden voyage with BAS took place during the 1999/2000 field season. Her renaming as the RRS Ernest Shackleton by Alexandra Shackleton took place on 13 May 2000.
RRS Ernest Shackleton moored against the sea ice at the Brunt ice Shelf near Halley Research Station
The vessel was renamed RRS Ernest Shackleton after the famed polar explorer.
The vessel is ice strengthened and 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 for those occasions when the ship cannot berth alongside.
After 20 years of polar duties for BAS, she returned to her owners, Norwegian shipping company G C Rieber, in April 2019. The vessel will continue her polar service with new owners the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS).
Some scientific equipment may be installed on board for the duration of a particular scientific cruise and removed at the end. This equipment is not listed here.
The vessel is equipped to high standard including:
BEAMISH drilled through over 2 km of ice on Rutford Ice Stream to discover when the West Antarctic Ice Sheet last collapsed and how water and soft sediments beneath it help the ice flow towards the sea.
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