BIO Hesperides (A-33), is a Spanish polar research vessel

Research vessel

A research vessel is a ship designed and 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, others require a dedicated vessel...

. She was built in 1990, by Bazan Shipyards of Cartagena

Cartagena, Spain

Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...

 (Spain). Hesperides is used to service the research bases in Antarctica as well as various research voyages.

Hesperides is classified by Lloyd's Register of Shipping with ice class

Ice class

Ships with an Ice Class have a strengthened hull to enable them to navigate through sea ice.-History:The first requirements for merchant ships to be escorted by icebreakers were set in Finland in 1890, after winter traffic to the port of Hanko was started. In the past, different classification...

 1C. She can move through up to 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) of ice at 5 knots. Her propulsion system uses a computer-controlled variable-pitch propeller and stern and bow thrusters. The vessel carries one helicopter.

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 the Ocean Nova, a vessel with 106 people in the Antarctic.