BIO ''Hespérides'' (A-33), is a Spanish polar

research vessel A research vessel (RV or R/V) is a ship or boat designed, modified, or equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel but others require a dedicated ...

. She was built in 1990, by Bazán Shipyards of Cartagena, Spain. ''Hespérides'' is used to service the research bases in

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...

, mainly the Spanish

Juan Carlos I Antarctic Base Juan Carlos I Antarctic Base, named after the former king of Spain, Juan Carlos I ( es, Base Antártica Española Juan Carlos Primero), is a seasonal (November to March) scientific station operated by Spain, opened in January 1988. Situated on Hu ...

, as well as to perform research voyages. It is operated by the

Spanish Navy The Spanish Navy or officially, the Armada, is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces and one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Spanish Navy was responsible for a number of major historic achievements in navigation, ...

and the responsible of the scientific equipment is the

Spanish National Research Council The Spanish National Research Council ( es, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC) is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe. Its main objective is to develop and promote res ...

. ''Hespérides'' is classified by

Lloyd's Register of Shipping Lloyd's Register Group Limited (LR) is a technical and professional services organisation and a maritime classification society, wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and ...

with

ice class Ice class refers to a notation assigned by a classification society or a national authority to denote the additional level of strengthening as well as other arrangements that enable a ship to navigate through sea ice. Some ice classes also have ...

1C. She can move through up to of ice at . Her propulsion system uses a computer-controlled variable-pitch propeller and stern and bow thrusters. The vessel carries one helicopter.

Name

es, Buque de Investigación Oceanográfica Hespérides, lit=Oceanographic Research Vessel Hesperides,, label=none is named after

Hesperides In Greek mythology, the Hesperides (; , ) are the nymphs of evening and golden light of sunsets, who were the "Daughters of the Evening" or "Nymphs of the West". They were also called the Atlantides () from their reputed father, the Titan At ...

, the Greek nymphs of the evening, located on the Western Mediterranean.

History

In 2003–2004, she was the subject of a thorough renovation, the hull was strengthened even more to break ice, all systems were improved and the habitability of the ship. The vessel is equipped with eleven laboratories, spread over 345 m² and located on the main deck and below. In 2009, the vessel participated in a high-profile rescue of ''Ocean Nova'', a vessel with 106 people in the Antarctic and, in 2010, in the

Malaspina Expedition The Malaspina Expedition (1789–1794) was a five-year maritime scientific exploration commanded by Alessandro Malaspina and José de Bustamante y Guerra. Although the expedition receives its name from Malaspina, he always insisted on giving Bust ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesperides Hesperides (A-33) Ships built in Cartagena, Spain Hesperides (A-33) Hesperides (A-33) Hesperides (A-33) Spain and the Antarctic