MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil to expand Antarctica activities with new polar vessel Comandante Saldanha

The vessel has a displacement of 5.800 tons plus a hangar to host two helicopters, plus the landing platform.

Brazil is expanding its Antarctica presence and activities with the introduction of a new polar vessel currently under construction in the county. The vessel “Almirante Saldanha” is considered an operational and scientific leap for the Brazilian Navy in the context of the strategic development of the Brazilian Antarctic Program.

 There were concerns that a unions’ strike at the shipyard building the state of the art vessel could further delay delivery, but apparently even during industrial actions, work continued to keep to schedule. Recent images reveal significant structural advances with the blocks ready to be united; however she was expected to be delivered in 2025.

The 93 meters long Comandante Saldanha (Polar 6 category) will have a reinforced hull enabling it to operate in thick ice and the diesel electric propulsion system is expected to ensure several months navigation even in extreme condition missions. The vessel has a displacement of 5.800 tons plus a hangar to host two helicopters, plus the landing platform.

The polar vessel will act as a top level scientific platform, with the necessary labs and ocean sensors, facilitating research on climate change, marine biodiversity, ice shelves dynamics, all considered central for international global research.

Besides a scientific research platform the new polar vessel will play a key role in supplying Brazil’s permanent base in Antarctica, “Comandante Ferraz” ensuring the transport of supplies, fuel, equipment and staff, which will confirm the ongoing activities of Brazilian operations in Antarctica.

The fact that the polar vessel is being built in Brazil, reinforces the country’s industrial base for Defense and ensures qualified jobs and the transfer of technology, and coincides with the country’s relaunching of naval construction capacity.

Finally according to Brazilian Navy sources the polar vessel “Comandante Saldanha” represents the convergence of science, sovereignty and an international project with a strong presence for Brazil in Antarctica, considered one of the most strategic and sensitive environments of the planet, much of which still has to be researched.