FESCO diesel motor vessel - Vasiliy Golovnin departed from the port of Cape Town (RSA) to Antarctica on December 24, 2019, delivering cargo to two Indian and Belgium scientific research stations.
The voyage will last until April 2020.
Vasiliy Golovnin vessel loaded with various goods
In Cape Town, the Vasiliy Golovnin vessel was loaded with 1382 tons of various goods, including equipment, fuel and food.
The vessel will also transport 35 Indian members of the expedition to the stations - Bharati and Maitri in India, to replace their colleagues who are working in Antarctica now.
Moreover, the vessel will also deliver cargo to the station - Princess Elizabeth in Belgium.
On board of the vessel
On board of the vessel there are two helicopters for ice observation and a self-propelled barge
On board of the vessel there are two helicopters for ice observation and a self-propelled barge, which is needed to unload the cargo on the unequipped shores.
In addition to the delivery of necessary goods, the vessel will be used for removing domestic and technical waste from the stations.
Contract between FESCO and NCPOR
The contract between FESCO and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) of the Ministry of Geography of India for the supply of Antarctic stations was signed in October 2018.
All necessary repairs were carried out and additional equipment was installed to implement the project on the vessel.
Ready for the upcoming voyage
The certificate of a polar navigation vessel, issued by the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, confirmed that the vessel - Vasiliy Golovnin was ready for the upcoming voyage in the polar waters.
In addition, FESCO received special permission from the Ministry of Natural resources and ecology of the Russian Federation to carry out activities in the Antarctic.