Polar research ship has Raytheon Anschütz IBS

Raytheon Anschütz has recently completed the supply of its latest generation of Integrated Bridge System (IBS) to the SA Agulhas II, a new polar research ship owned by the South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).

The 134 m long vessel was designed and built by STX Finland’s Rauma shipyard and has successfully completed sea trials that included demanding ice trial tests in the Gulf of Bothnia The vessel is intended to conduct research activities and expeditions in the polar region, but is also designed to serve as an icebreaker, a passenger ship and a supply ship for the South African research centers in Antarctica.

The IBS delivered by Raytheon Anschütz consists of six wide-screen workstations for radar, chart radar, ECDIS and conning, as well as the top-of-the-range NautoPilot, a redundant gyro compass system Standard 22, a full package of navigation sensors, the navigation data management and a complete radio station meeting GMDSS A4 requirements for operation in the polar region. The navigation system complies with DNV’s NAUT-AW notation.

One of the radars provides ice radar functionality with advanced ice imaging capabilities, to assist the navigator in finding the optimal route through icy waters and reducing fuel consumption and the risk of hull damage. The bridge system also integrates a dynamic positioning (DP) System, which shares information such as waypoints with the navigation system to allow precise operation within the ice fields. A helicopter console with a chart radar slave display and equipment for the SRTP room complete the scope of supply.

The bridge and navigation equipment was installed by technicians from AT Marine Oy in conjunction with RH South Africa, both long-term certified service partner of Raytheon Anschütz.

April 16, 2012