SA Agulhas II Hull Study

Thursday, January 26, 2012

SA Agulhas II used as model for exciting ice‐trial research programme

The University of Stellenbosch and the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) South Africa have embarked on an exciting research programme using the SA Agulhas II vessel to further the understanding of the hull design of icebreaking ships and the reaction in ice conditions. The SA Agulhas II, the latest icebreaking ship being built by STX , has been used as a model in a full‐scale trial at Technology, an ice model testing facility in . The fascinating trial took place in Finland from 16 to 17 January 2012.

The SA Agulhas II, South Africa’s very own state‐of‐the‐art Polar Research Vessel is well on its way to completion. The modified vessel has been built to replace the aging SA Agulhas at a cost of R1.3 billion and will allow for key scientific and climate change research to take place. The vessel will transport scientist and maintenance crews to the SANAE base in the Antarctic as well as Marion and Gough Islands. Besides being a key research vessel, the SA Agulhas II is also an icebreaking ship. This is due to the special hull design of the vessel which allows for cutting through of one meter of level ice at a steady five knots. According to Mr Goran Wilkman, Manager of Research and Testing at Aker Arctic Technology Finland, icebreaking ships are driven by propellers which push through the ice in a way that the bow or stern is breaking, depending on the way that you want to go. The main idea is not to crush the ice but try to do icebreaking by bending. This is the most beneficial way as to preserve energy on the ship.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and University of Stellenbosch South Africa have joined partners with STX Finland, Aker Arctic Technology and the Universities of Oulu and Aalto Finland to take part in this exciting study. The entire research programme is to cost an approximate EU 2, 5 million. The aim of this leading research programme is to create and improve a scientific basis for design of ice‐going ships including factors such as the ship hull, propulsion, power requirement, comfort for passengers and crew onboard and safe navigation in ice. It is to reinforce previous studies and create new information by establishing solid connection between ice properties and ice conditions and measured ice load from hull and propulsion shafting. The benefits of this study is that it is a great opportunity for South Africa to be in front of the development in Arctic and Antarctic ship

1 SA Agulhas II Hull Study building. The vessels findings will validate the present Polar Class rules and improve new classification rules and also develop dynamic models for propeller‐ice interaction. According to Professor Pentti Kujala, Marine and Traffic Safety Professor, Aalto University Finland, research in this extent has not been done before as they have not had a ship like the SA Agulhas II in Finland for a long time. The ship is powerful enough to navigate in the Baltic Sea ice and the Antarctic sea ice which gives them a new opportunity to make full‐scale measurements and improvements for future ships on a number of levels. “This is a great opportunity for South Africa and Finland to network and exchange information. We are getting older and need to start the education of the next generation of Polar ship expertise.” – Professor Kujala, Finland.

STX Finland is one of the most experienced shipbuilding companies in the world. The shipbuilder specialises in building the world’s largest cruise vessels, ferries, offshore service vessles, navy craft, arctic vessels and other specialist research vessels. They have built 60 percent of the world’s icebreaking fleet with the most powerful being the Russian Taymyr and Vaygach ships built in 1985. They also built the Finnish Fennica and Nordica multifunctional icebreakers in 1993. The DEA awarded the contract of building the SA Agulhas II to STX which is for the vessel to be a tanker, a cargo carrier, a passenger ship, a research vessel, a helicopter carrier and an icebreaker. STX Finland is continually developing new designs, introducing features and technologies which provide even higher performance and thus generate more value for there clients – hence the SA Agulhas II research programme initiative. They are constantly striving for step change improvements in project execution, productivity and cost efficiency, by leveraging best practice from throughout the STX Business Group. STX Finland has three in Finland, , and Arctech Helsinki Shipyard of which STX Finland owns 50%. STX Finland's subsidiaries include Aker Arctic Technology and STX Cabins, among others.

The vessel is in its final stages of testing and is expected to embark on her maiden voyage to Cape Town in March 2012.

Ends

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For more information please go to our website: www.saagulhasii.co.za

Issued by: Mishkah Croeser Urban Soul Communications Tel: +27 21 447 7292 Fax: +27 21 447 7045 Email: [email protected]

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