The Brazilian Navy plans to commission the NApAnt Antarctic support ship in 2025 to replace the NApOc Ary Rongel boat (pictured here). (Brazilian Navy)
The state-controlled Brazilian company Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais (EMGEPRON) signed a contract with Polar 1 Construção Naval worth USD150 million on 13 June for the Navio de Apoio Antártico (NApAnt) Antarctic support ship and related life-cycle support, the Brazilian Navy said.
The contract marks a major milestone in its effort to acquire a new offshore support ship, capable of operating in the Antarctic continent, where the country has a permanent research station, the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF).
The Brazilian Navy plans to commission the ship in late 2025, the service said.
Polar 1 Construção Naval, a special-purpose-entity formed by Brazil‘s Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz (EJA) and Sembcorp Marine of Singapore will build the NApAnt in Brazil at the shipbuilder Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz to replace the offshore support ship NApOc Ary Rongel (H44) in support of the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR).
Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz, Sembcorp Marine's wholly owned shipyard in Brazil, is located in Aracruz, Espirito Santo.
The consortium of Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz and Sembcorp Marine was selected in October 2021.
The ship was specifically acquired to lift equipment and personnel to the 4.500 m² EACF and to conduct research and survey work.
The ship will displace approximately 5,880 tonnes for a length of 93.9 m, a width of 18.5 m, a draught of 6 m, cruising speed of 12 kt, endurance of 70 days, and a crew of 95, including 26 researchers.
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