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New ice patrol ship for the UK
last update: Jul 19, 2011 07:34 PM
From a "Defence Web" article: The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected the icebreaker MV Polarbjorn (Polar Bear), renamed the HMS Protector, to become the Royal Navy's new Antarctic ice patrol vessel.
The vessel will be used to patrol and to provide support to the South Atlantic Territories of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich islands. She will also be used as an Antarctic patrol ship and will work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the UK Hydrographic Office and the British Antarctic Survey.
She will replaced HMS Endurance which suffered serious damage when she flooded in the South Atlantic in 2008 and was withdrawn from service pending a decision on her future.
Before being chartered to the Royal Navy, Polarbjorn underwent a ten-day refit in Odense, Denmark. The helipad, originally above her bridge, was repositioned over the stern. Other changes included the installation of an echo sounder survey system, an overhaul of the main engines and gearboxes and the addition of naval insignia.
Read:
Defence Web, 13th July 2011
