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SA Agulhas
The SA Agulhas is South Africa's polar research vessel. The Agulhas is used to service three research bases from her base in Cape Town.The bases are at Gough Island, Marion Island and SANAE IV Antarctica.
The vessel is a purpose-built ice-strengthened Antarctic Supply & Oceanographic Research Vessel, built in 1977 by Mitsubishi, Shimonoseki, Japan
The ship is operated by the South African Government's Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, Directorate: Antarctica and islands.
< 1980s photograph SA Agulhas off Tristan with old livery
Annual Gough Island - Tristan da Cunha Voyage
As part of the lease of Gough Island as a South African Meteorological Station, the SA Agulhas provides a cargo and passenger service to Tristan da Cunha each Spring, normally September. This voyage gives passengers an opportunity to have a stay of up to three weeks on Tristan, making it a very popular, and busy trip for visitors. It has provided a vital service to Tristan for over 25 years. The Agulhas uses
CHC Helicopters who operate Bell 206 and Bell 212 helicopters which can be used to transport passengers to and from Tristan in the event of poor sea conditions.

Inside SA Agulhas

Pictures supplied by
Samuel Oosthuizen
Ship Operations Manager

Left : The Bridge

Right : A Typical cabin

SA Agulhas has recently adopted a revised alcohol policy
A full bar service is available each evening, but passengers are not permitted to bring alcohol on board or consumed and stored in cabins. Passengers may purchase up to the South African Customs limit (currently 2 litres of wine, 1 litre of spirits and 200 cigarettes) from the Bond Store operated by the purser but this will only be issued immediately before disembarkation in Cape Town.

 

Left :

Passengers' Dining Room

Right :

Passengers' Lounge

Agulhas' Dimensions
6123 gross tonnes
111.95 metres long; 18.05 metres wide (beam)
6 metres moulded draft
12.5 knots Cruising Speed ; 14 knots maximum speed
15,000 nautical miles range; 90 days endurance
40 crew and up to 98 other staff (including scientists) or passengers
< SA Agulhas in 21st Century livery off the Antarctic Pack Ice from Sam Oosthuizen

MV Edinburgh and MV Kelso
pictured at anchor off the Tristan Settlement
The boats are operated by the Fishing Company Ovenstones Ltd. out of Cape Town.

MV Kelso (left) operates only on active fishing trips.

MV Edinburgh (right) is the more regular visitor, carrying out purely cargo/passenger services as well as fishing trips during the August - February season.

MV Edinburgh
at anchor off Tristan Settlement

with the 1961 volcanic cone and lava flow behind.

MV Edinburgh was built in 1970, and was previously named MV Hekla after the active Icelandic volcano. She entered Tristan fishing service in the 1980s, has a crew of 35 and can carry 12 passengers.

 Dimensions :

1085 gross tonnes
62.5 metres long
11.5 metres wide (beam)
6.1 metres depth
260 m2 cargo capacity
1600 hp Deutz engine

MV Kelso
anchored off the Settlement

with the 1961 volcanic cone & lava flow behind with the eastern Settlement houses visible behind the bow.

MV Kelso was built in 1971 by Hayashikane Shipbuilders, she was previously named MV Toko Maru. MV Kelso has a crew of 38 and can carry 12 passengers.

Dimensions :

1678 gross tonnes
71.7 metres long
11 metres wide (beam)
6.8 metres depth
120 m2 cargo capacity
8000 hp Nigata engine
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Published by the Tristan da Cunha Government and the Tristan da Cunha Association. Copyright © 2008 and all Rights Reserved.
This page first published May 2005