Transport
mv SA Agulhas
The SA Agulhas is South Africa's polar research vessel. She has been in service for almost thirty years and is nearing the end of her term of service. The Agulhas is used to service the three SANAP research bases in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica as well as various research voyages. She spends most of her time out of harbour, browse her voyage schedule to see when she will be in Cape Town.
Vessel Particulars |
|
| Type | Steel Hulled, Ice strengthened Antarctic Supply/Oceanographic Research Vessel |
| Class | LRS Ice Class 1 |
| Keel Laid | 1977 |
| Builders | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki, Japan |
| Gross tonnage | 6122.96 T |
| Displacement | 1836.88 T |
| Nett tonnage | 7107 at moulded summer draft |
| Length overall | 111.95 m |
| Breadth | 18.05 m |
| Moulded draft | 6.045 m |
| Power | 4476 kW |
| Cruising speed | 12.5 knots |
| Maximum speed | 14.0 knots |
| Range | 15 000 nautical miles |
| Endurance | 90 days |
| Call sign | ZSAF |
| Complement | 138 comprising 40 crew and 98 scientific/other staff |
| Affiliation | Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Directorate: Antarctica and islands |
Air support
Oryx
SANAP uses Oryx helicopters for the transport of personnel and cargo. These machines are maintained and operated by the South African Air Force (SAAF) during the take-over periods.
Overland support
Caterpillar Challenger
All heavy cargo that cannot be transported with an Oryx are loaded on sledges and towed with the Challengers. One Challenger can pull a load of tens of tons, loaded on a few sledges. Diesel for SANAE VI is also transported this way. The diesel is pumped from the Agulhas into 50 000l bowsers mounted on sledges standing on the ice shelf. The bowsers are pulled to E-base and then onwards to SANAE IV at Vesleskarvet, about 160 km or 14 hours away.SANAP uses five Challengers. They are used on a rotation basis and are regularly returned to South Africa for major services. Three are short wheel base 65 C's and the other two long wheel base 70 C's.
Caterpillar Dozer
The bulldozers are used to load and offload cargo from the sledges, clear accumulated snow, dump snow in the snow melter, tow heavy loads and a variety of other jobs. Four D6H's are used, two with buckets and two with blades. Two of them are fitted with Pallfinger cranes to lift heavy loads.A small D4 bulldozer is used for odd jobs around base. It's back hacktor is especially convenient to load snow in the snow melter.
Alpine Skidoo
The ski-doos are used to transport personnel and light cargo around Vesles and E-base. They can easily tow a personnel sledge with up to six people.The ski-doo has a two stroke engine that uses premixed fuel. It's top speed is about 40 km/h, which makes it very convenient to travel short distances and it can even do longer ones with ease, for instance to take people down to the bukta from E-base.
