COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

BAS Ships

Issue Date: November 2000








The first voyage of RRS Ernest Shackleton and the retirement of RRS Bransfield

Two ice-strengthened Royal Research Ships support the Antarctic operations of the British Antarctic Survey. Currently the vessels are RRS Ernest Shackleton which plays the principal role in the resupply of stations and personal transport, and RRS James Clark Ross which, in addition to a logistic role, has advanced facilities for marine research. RRS Ernest Shackleton undertook its first Antarctic deployment for the British Antarctic Survey in 1999-2000 replacing RRS Bransfield which was sold after its twenty-eighth and final successful Antarctic season in 1998-1999. This stamp issue celebrates the achievements of RRS Bransfield and welcomes the new RRS Ernest Shackleton.

20p - RRS Bransfield unloading near Halley

The resupply of Halley station was the most important task of the season for RRS Bransfield. Halley is the most remote of the stations of the British Antarctic Survey and access to Halley has usually required great care by the ship's crew to avoid the worst of the ice conditions in the Weddell Sea. Two calls are normally made at Halley, the first before Christmas.

33p - Tula supply boat and RRS Ernest Shackleton

The supply boat Tula has provided the link between RRS Bransfield and RRS Ernest Shackleton, for both vessels have carried Tula for transferring cargo to the shore at places like Bird Island where the ship has to stand far off from the coast. Tula is named after the boat used by John Biscoe in his exploration of the Antarctic during 1830-33

37p - RRS Bransfield

RRS Bransfield seen from the air alongside the fast ice of the Brunt Ice Shelf from which the point tractor trains transfer the cargo to and from Halley station. The fast ice often provides a good anchor and safe access to the lip of the ice shelf. In some years when sea ice hampers the access westwards to Halley, the resupply has to take place over a 55 km route, but in ideal conditions it is just 20 km over the ice to Halley.

43p - RRS Ernest Shackelton

RRS Ernest Shackleton in her first season with the British Antarctic Survey participated in a joint operation with HMS Endurance and BAS aircraft to provide a fuel and logistics depot at a site where a deep ice core will be drilled in future years. Helicopters from HMS Endurance offloaded the supplies in nets to a temporary depot, from which Twin Otter aircraft completed the final leg to the southern summit of Berkner Island.

Both RRS Bransfield and RRS Ernest Shackleton depart from a UK port in October and return in early May. The first port of call is often Montevideo in Uruguay where fresh provisions are collected and from which it is only a four day passage to the Falkland Islands, where the vessels are registered. The vessels return to the Falkland Islands many times during the Antarctic summer season between calls at the British Antarctic Survey Stations.

RRS Bransfield

RRS Bransfield was built in 1970 by Robb Caledon of Leith as an ice-strengthened cargo ship and had her maiden Antarctic voyage in 1970-1971. She was operated by BAS as the major supply vessel for the Antarctic stations until 1999, delivering not only food, materials and scientific equipment to the stations, but also providing a limited platform for scientific research.

The Ship was named after Edward Bransfield, Master, RN (1785-1852). Bransfield was the first person to chart any part of the Antarctic mainland.

Technical Details

Ice Classification: Lloyds 100 A1 Ice Class 1*
Dimensions: Length 99.2m, Breadth 18.4m, Draught 6.7m.
Tonnage: 4816 gross, 1577 net.
Speed: Passage speed 13.25 knots (2 engines), 10.75 knots (1 engine).
Endurance: 55 days (2 engines), 90 days (1 engine).
Cargo capacity: 3450 cubic metres.
Scientific areas: Laboratories 51 square metres.
Accommodation: Officers 13, crew 24, staff on passage 59.
Annual days at sea: 234 (average).
Capacities and working spaces:
   Dry cargo holds: 969 cubic metres
   Fuel: 862 cubic metres
   Fresh water: 364 cubic metres
Hull materials: Steel.
Main engines: Two diesel electrical, each 6400BHP at 500 rpm.
Auxiliary diesels: 950 HP


RRS Ernest Shackleton

RRS Ernest Shackleton was built in 1995 by Kverner Klevin Leirvik A/S, Norway as the MV Polar Queen for the Norwegian company Rieber Shipping of Bergen, The British Antarctic Survey acquired the ship in August 1999. The Vessel was renamed RRS Ernest Shackleton and reregistered in the Falkland Islands. The vessel is ice-strengthened and capable of a wide range of logistic tasks as well as having a scientific capability.

The ship was named after Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famed Polar Explorer, who brought all his men to safety when his ship Endurance was crushed in the ice. The epic journey from the Weddell Sea to South Georgia remains one of the legendary tales of survival.

Technical Details

Ice Classification: DnV*A1 Icebreaker ICE 05
Dimensions: Length 80.0m, Breadth 17.0m, Draught 7.35m.
Deadweight (at 7.35m): 1,910 tonnes.
Endurance: 130 days.
Cargo Capacity: 1500 cubic metres of general cargo, 195 cubic metres aviation fuel
Scientific areas: Laboratories 90 square metres.
Accommodation: 80. Propulsion: Type: Single screw C.P propeller in nozzle from twin output/single output gearbox
Main Engines: Two Bergen diesel BRM 6 each 2550 kW at 720 rpm.
Thrusters: Azimuth thruster forward as emergency "take you home" propulsion.




Stamp technical details:

Designer: Crown Agents Stamp Bureau Design Studio
Photographs: British Antarctic Survey
Printer: The House of Questa Ltd
Process: Lithography
Stamp Size: 28.45 x 42.58mm
Sheet Size: 50 (2 x 25)
Values: 20p, 33p, 37p, 43.
Text: Dr J Paren, British Antarctic Survey




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