Feature 3 | ICE CLASS VESSELS
both the Arctic and Antarctic and dynamic positioning in ice-laden waters. T h e Wi s s e n s c h a f ts ra t ’ s
recommendations have been welcomed by the Alfred Wegener Institute in the Helmholtz Association, which operates the 1982-built Polarstern. Te Institute said that it would submit an application to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research for drawing up documents to prepare for invitations to tender. Federal German funding had brought the
concept of a highly innovative, multi-role research icebreaker for the polar regions, encapsulated in the Aurora Borealis, to the technical design stage. Following on from this, an European Union (EU)-sponsored project was set in train in 2008 to create the structures for the ship to be ordered, built and operated under the auspices of the European Research Icebreaker Consortium (ERICON). Te Ericon-AB project, as it is known, has 15 partners from 10 countries, coordinated from Strasbourg by the European Science Foundation (ESF). Russian cooperation and involvement was regarded from the outset as particularly important. Te rationale for public funding was that
the Aurora Borealis would enable Europe to undertake international research expeditions into the Arctic Ocean and the Antarctic continental shelf throughout the year, providing a hitherto unmatched capability to allow European polar scientists to study some of the ecosystem and climatic issues that will become ever-more pressing in the coming decades. At approximately 65,000tonnes
displacement and just under 200m in length overall, Aurora Borealis was foreseen with a diesel-electric plant of 94MW and three ice-reinforced, fixed pitch propellers absorbing 27MW apiece, enabling unassisted ice navigation and manoeuvring. Te unique incorporation of a deepwater drilling rig would enable samples to be extracted from the ocean floor at a penetration of up to 1000m in water depths of between 100m and 5000m at some of the most inhospitable locations on the planet. Model tests carried out in the ice tanks of the Hamburg Ship Model Basin (HSVA) and the Aker Arctic Research Centre in Finland demonstrate that the vessel’s technical design would permit dynamic-positioning in ice cover potentially as thick as 2.5m.
56
Currently, experts assigned to the ERICON
project are understood to be working on a business plan encompassing various financial participation models for the partners in the research consortium. A final decision as to the building of the benchmark-setting Aurora Borealis is now anticipated in early 2012. It seems unlikely that the vessel would be ready for service before 2016. As one of the original signatories to the
Antarctic Treaty, South Africa maintains modern and sophisticated research facilities in Antarctica, and now has a new, multi-role ship under construction to support and extend its polar scientific platform. Entrusted by the country’s Department of Environmental Affairs to the Rauma yard of STX Finland, the 134m vessel will become the crucial logistical component of the South African National Antarctic Programme. Due for delivery in the first half of 2012,
the €116 million build project constitutes one of the largest-ever civil trade agreements between South Africa and Finnish industry. The diesel-electric newbuild will not
only be used to carry scientists and research equipment for the National Antarctic Programme, but will also serve as a resupply ship, icebreaker and expedition vessel, with the capability to spend months at sea in the role of a mobile laboratory. Futhermore, the ship will be equipped to keep a continuous record of weather data for meteorological institutions around the world. Expeditions will take place during the Antarctic summer, between November and March. Over the remainder of the year, the vessel’s duties will include relief of stations in the Antarctic islands. Accommodation will be provided for a crew of 45 plus some 100 researchers or passengers. Vessel operation has been assigned to
the South African company Smit Amandla Marine, and crew will be trained at the Wartsila Land and Sea academy in Turku. The power and propulsion plant will
be based on four main gensets driven by six-cylinder models of the Wartsila 32-series medium-speed engine design. Electrotechnical specialist Converteam has been contracted to deliver a transformerless power solution, including two 4.5MW propulsion motors supplied by PWM MV7000-type converters. By way of the multi-drive architecture, the propulsion converters will also feed energy
to the tunnel thruster motors. Benefits of the technology include improved efficiency and availability of the propulsion train, lower overall maintenance costs, and space and weight savings, with a correspondingly reduced footprint. Meanwhile, a new research vessel project
under way in Wisconsin will help serve USA long-term objectives related to its Arctic national interest. A long-espoused need for an advanced research ship conceived and equipped to operate in the ice-laden waters of Alaska and the polar regions, offering substantially greater capability than an earlier, sold vessel, has been acted upon through the order for the 260ſt (87m) Sikuliaq. Designed by Te Glosten Associates,
the Seattle-based marine technical consultancy, with reference to science mission requirements developed by the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System community, Sikuliaq has been laid down by Marinette Marine Corporation, and is expected to be ready to undertake her first scientific deployment in 2014. The vessel’s contractual owner is the National Science Foundation, although it will be operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks as part of the USA academic research fleet, and homeported at the university’s Seward Marine Center. It will be used by scientists in the USA and from among the international oceanographic community. Te requisite ice strengthening will be
incorporated to allow Sikuliaq to work safely in moderate seasonal ice, operating over a longer period than formerly possible in the northern Pacific, the Gulf of Alaska, and the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Te ship will have the capability to break ice up to 2.5ſt (0.75m) thick. Sikuliaq will allow researchers to collect
sediment samples directly from the sea floor, host remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), use a flexible suite of winches to raise and lower scientific equipment, and conduct surveys throughout the water column and sea bottom using special instrumentation. The vessel will also be equipped to transmit real-time information during expeditions directly to classrooms anywhere. A low underwater radiated noise signature has been stipulated so as to conduct marine mammal and fisheries work to best effect. NA
The Naval Architect January 2011
Feature 3
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