RRS ''Bransfield'' was an ice-strengthened cargo vessel, purpose-built for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

History

RRS ''Bransfield'' was designed by consultants Graham & Woolnaugh of Liverpool for NERC, and built by Robb Caledon Shipbuilders Ltd, Leith. She was the second vessel named after

Edward Bransfield Edward Bransfield (c. 1785 – 31 October 1852) was an Irish sailor who became an officer in the British Royal Navy, serving as a master on several ships, after being impressed into service in Ireland at the age of 18. He is noted for his par ...

RN (1785-1852), who discovered the north west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, roughly surveyed the

South Shetland Islands The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands with a total area of . They lie about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, and between southwest of the nearest point of the South Orkney Islands. By the Antarctic Treaty of 1 ...

, claiming King George Island and Clarence Island for Great Britain. Bransfield was the first man to chart part of the Antarctic mainland. An earlier wooden Norwegian sealer, built in 1918 as ''Veslekari'', was requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1943 and renamed HMS ''Bransfield''. She was the original expedition ship for

Operation Tabarin Operation Tabarin was the code name for a secret British expedition to the Antarctic during World War Two, operational 1943–46. Conducted by the Admiralty on behalf of the Colonial Office, its primary objective was to strengthen British claims t ...

, a secret British expedition to Antarctica during World War Two. Her service with Tabarin was inglorious - she proved to be unseaworthy, and was replaced before the expedition left English waters in November 1943. In 1993/94, while in the

Weddell Sea The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean and contains the Weddell Gyre. Its land boundaries are defined by the bay formed from the coasts of Coats Land and the Antarctic Peninsula. The easternmost point is Cape Norvegia at Princess Martha ...

, RRS ''Bransfield'' suffered an engine room fire. In May 1999, she was sold to

GC Rieber Shipping GC Rieber Shipping () is a Norwegian shipping company that operates offshore subsea support vessels, marine seismic vessels and polar logistics and research expeditions. Based in Bergen, Norway it is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. A major own ...

as part of the contract for the long-term charter of her replacement, . She was subsequently renamed ''Igenpearl'', and was scrapped in

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' fin ...

in 2000.

Service

RRS ''Bransfield'' was BAS's main supply vessel for 29 years, from 1970/71 to 1998/99. She also had limited facilities for on-board research. There was a fully equipped hospital bay on board. For much of her career her joint Masters were John Cole and Stewart Laurence. ''Bransfield'' represented NERC in the Review of the Fleet at

Spithead Spithead is an area of the Solent and a roadstead off Gilkicker Point in Hampshire, England. It is protected from all winds except those from the southeast. It receives its name from the Spit, a sandbank stretching south from the Hampshire ...

in 1977, held to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee.

References

External links

* Photo of the ship http://www.sln.org.uk/wow/images/692.jpg {{DEFAULTSORT:Bransfield Icebreakers of the United Kingdom Research vessels of the United Kingdom 1970 ships Ships built in Leith British Antarctic Survey