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Antarctic Ship Rescue 2002

1. The Magdalena Oldendorff

Magdalena Oldendorff Magdalena Oldendorff

The Magdalena Oldendorff was built by Valmet, Helsinki, Finland, in 1983 as a Arctic-21 [Ice class 1A Super] multi-purpose roll-on/roll-off vessel. It was originally called the Nizhneyansk and was made for the Far-Eastern Shipping Co. (FESCO) to supply arctic regions in the U.S.S.R. It also belonged to the Russian company Sevmorput, who used it to supply Russian bases in the Antarctic. It was later sold to the Norwegians, who called it the Belnor. She was re-classed from Russian Maritime Register to Germanischer Lloyds in 1996 for its present owners, Oldendorff Carriers, who are based in Lübeck, Germany.


2. The Agulhas

Agulhas

The Agulhas is an ice strengthened Antarctic supply or oceanographic research vessel, and is owned by South Africa's Department of Environment and Tourism. It was built in Japan in 1977.

A Russian oceanographer is on board the Agulhas and is acting as ice pilot for the duration of its voyage, supplying recommended routes to the captain. The ice pilot uses a helicopter at times to fly approximately 30 nautical miles ahead of the ship and map "leads" (a navigable passage through floating ice) to guide the ship.


3. The Almirante Irizar

Almirante Irizar

The Almirante Irizar Argentine Navy icebreaker was built in Finland in December 1978.
Unofficial website by Roberto Argentero
More images from the Argentina Navy website.


4. The Oden

Oden in ice

The Oden is an icebreaker owned by Swedish Maritime Administration built in 1988. It was the first non-nuclear ship to reach the geographic North Pole on 7 September 1991.
Official website.