SA Agulhas II, modern research vessel

The SA Agulhas II is being built to replace the ageing SA Agulhas, after 33 years of services. The SA Agulhas has embarked on her final voyage to the Antarctic on 8 December with scientists, researchers and public works maintenance crews.

Research not limited to Antartica

One of the main purposes of the new vessel's operations is the support of the South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE IV) base on the Antarctic continent. The base conducts research in the fields of physical sciences, earth sciences and life sciences.

According to Henry Valentine, director at the DEA for Southern Ocean and Antarctic Support, the modified vessel will allow for mobile research to be conducted as it consists of eight permanent laboratories and six containerised laboratories. In addition to climate change and scientific research, the vessel has a weather station that transmits continuous data back to the South African Weather Services. Marine life observation, which is a key indicator of climate change around the world, will also be conducted on the ship through observation towers. This allows researchers to keep track of migratory patterns and the overall health of marine life in the Southern Ocean.

The SA Agulhas II will undergo sea trials in January 2012 and expected to embark on her maiden voyage to Cape Town at the end of February.