RRS Ernest Shackleton

RRS Ernest Shackleton

The Royal Research Ship Ernest Shackleton was built in 1995 at the Kvaaerner Kleven Leirvik yard, Norway, for Rieber Shipping of Bergen and was acquired by the British Antarctic Survey in August 1999 to replace the RRS Bransfield, which was retired from service following 28 years of work for the Survey.

The Ernest Shacklteon is an ice strengthened cargo/survey vessel, with a length of 80.0m, breadth of 17.0m and draft of 7.35m. Gross Tonnage is 4028 Tonnes. Propulsion is via two 3604 HP engines, which drive a single propeller via a gearbox.
There are four thrusters and an Azi-pod for position holding during survey operations. The vessel is equipped with a hospital and carries both a doctor and dentist whilst working in the Antarctic. The vessel carries 21 Officers and Crew and there is room for a further 50 supernumerary personnel.
A cargo boat, ‘Tula’ is used to discharge cargo to bases that don’t have alongside access.

The radio station is GMDSS compliant for Sea Area A4 and has two HF transceivers capable of all band/mode operations. Most of the vessels communications is now carried using e-mail via a high speed data link through the C-Band satellite system (which also provides Internet access and cheap telephone calls for all onboard). Also fitted is a Inmarsat B system, which is used mainly for backup.

Full technical details

Callsign : ZDLS1

Port of Registry : Stanley, Falkland Islands

Flag : British

Owner : Polar Queen Ltd., Capco House, 31/37 North Quay, Douglas I.O.M.

Operator : British Antarctic Survey

Communications Equipment:

The vessel is fitted with a GMDSS Area A4 (worldwide) station, comprising of two Scanti TRP transceivers, capable of 750w output fed to dedicated 8m whip antennas mounted on the Monkey Island, above the Bridge. The station is divided into two separate units with the main station on the Port side and the reserve station on the Starboard side. Along with this there are two MF/HF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) units, two VHF DSC units and numerous VHF transceivers. As we are fitted with a Heli-deck we also have an aero-VHF. Satellite communications is via a Nera Standard Bm terminal and this is used for High Speed Data (HSD), which is used for the bulk of our traffic via e-mail. This operartes at 64 k/bits. Telex, telephony and fax are also available through this terminal.

The Skanti transceivers have been modified so as to be able to operate outside the normal maritime bands, as when the vessel is in Antarctica 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16 MHz are used. It is also fitted with CW mode, although this is not used these days within the commercial world, following the introduction of GMDSS. However, it does come in very handy for my amateur radio operating.

In 2003 the ship was fitted with an InVsat C-Band satellite system, giving the vessel full internet access and access to the UK telephone network....meaning cheaper calls to home.

Official No. : 732681

Ice Draft Salt Water : 6.850 m

IMO No. : 9114256

Summer Draft Salt Water : 7.350 m

DNV No. : 18620

Salt Water Displacement at 7.35 m : 5455.34 tonnes

Gross Tonnage : 4028 tonnes

New Lightship : 3546.81 tonnes

Net Tonnage : 1209 tonnes

Salt Water Deadweight at 7.35 m : 1908.53 tonnes

LOA : 80.00 m

LBP : 72.40 m

Beam : 17.00 m

Height to Main Deck : 11.20 m

Height to top of mast : 36.40 m - draft

Engine : 3604 Hp x 2

Thrusters : 816 Hp x 3 + 1088 Hp x 1 + 1 Azimuth 1088 Hp

Cranes : SWL 50 tonnes (10 m) SWL 5 tonnes (10m) SWL 2 tonnes (7m)

Tank Capacity :

MDO : 1357.5 m� Lub Oil : 48.8 m� Kerosene : 195 m�

Water : 167.7 m� Ballast : 632.2 m�

Cargo Hold Capacity :

Main Hold : 2258.3 m�

Aft Hold : 991.7 m�

Maximum Load per m� :

Tank Top : 3.5 t/m�

C. deck : 1.65 t/m�

Anchor Chain and Weights :

Total 17 shackles Weight : 2590 kg each

Built : 1995

Yard : Kvaaerner Kleven Leirvik, Norway. Yard No. 267

Class : 1A1 EO Icebreaker Ice 05 Helideck Ice

W1 dat (-30 C) dk (+) pvdk ram (4.1 m/s)

Aut Forepart ARC 2 Icebreaker

04/12/2007