Icebird (ship)
Encyclopedia
The Icebird is a cargo vessel which delivers supplies to the Australian Antarctic Division
(AAD) bases, principally Macquarie Island
, Mawson
, Casey
and Davis Station
s. The Icebird's maiden voyage to Antarctica began when she departed from Cape Town, South Africa
in November 1984.
In 1996, the vessel was renamed Polar Bird.
(ANARE) by Antarktis und Spezialfahrt Schiffartsgesellschaft GmbH (GSS) in Germany
.
Due to the large scale rebuilding program underway at Australia's stations, the Australian Antarctic Division
needed to increase the cargo space available to transport building materials. Icebird's ability to carry containers
enabled the rebuilding program to switch over to the AANBUS modular construction that is so characteristic of ANARE's continental stations today.
Icebird's bow was constructed to the latest ice-breaking
design, which its owners claimed would allow it to break one year old ice with continuous speed, and so avoid the constant threat to Antarctic shipping: besetment (being surrounded by ice without helm control).
The vessel was also equipped with a temperature-controlled double skin for both the cargo holds and engine room, maintained by circulating pre-heated fuel around the ship. It carried a helicopter and specially strengthened flight deck. The 'tween-deck hatch covers doubled as pontoons, accompanied by an ice-strengthened pusher barge, features which would permit offloading cargo in remote areas.
"It was a standard box construction, superstructure aft with side cranes. But it gave you tremendous capability - you just opened the top of the ship ... and dropped everything in and closed it up and off you went." John Whitelaw, the Acting Assistant Director of Operations, described the ship's unique cargo facilities.
"Icebird was fitted with a detachable accommodation module which could carry 100 passengers. It was clamped to the ship in front of the bridge, and was secured with bolts..." Interview with John Whitelaw and Annie Rushton, ANARE Jubilee Project, 21 August 1995
which was wrecked on Macquarie Island
on the evening of 3 December 1987, during resupply operations at Macquarie Island
.
At the time the Icebird was returning to Hobart
from Davis Station
in Antarctica. The Icebird was immediately despatched to Macquarie Island
to pick up the personnel and crew from the Nella Dan. She arrived at Buckles Bay on 8 December 1987.
Only two years later, during the 1995-96 season, the Aurora Australis
was temporarily out of service, and a replacement ship was hired - the Icebird. Reborn under the new name of Polar Bird, and now with Norwegian owners, the Polar Bird has been chartered several years since by ANARE.
Australian Antarctic Division
The Australian Antarctic Division is an agency of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean...
(AAD) bases, principally Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
, Mawson
Mawson Station
Mawson Station is one of three permanent Australian bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory of East Antarctica. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the base is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division...
, Casey
Casey Station
Casey Station is a permanent base in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division located on Vincennes Bay in the Australian Antarctic Territory.- History :...
and Davis Station
Davis Station
Davis Station is a permanent base in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division . It is the busiest Australian scientific research station...
s. The Icebird's maiden voyage to Antarctica began when she departed from Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in November 1984.
In 1996, the vessel was renamed Polar Bird.
Specifications
Billed by her builders as the world's first purpose-built polar resupply vessel, the Icebird was custom made for Australian National Antarctic Research ExpeditionsAustralian National Antarctic Research Expeditions
The Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions is the historical name for the Australian Antarctic Program administered for Australia by the Australian Antarctic Division .-The ANARE Name:...
(ANARE) by Antarktis und Spezialfahrt Schiffartsgesellschaft GmbH (GSS) in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Due to the large scale rebuilding program underway at Australia's stations, the Australian Antarctic Division
Australian Antarctic Division
The Australian Antarctic Division is an agency of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . The division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean...
needed to increase the cargo space available to transport building materials. Icebird's ability to carry containers
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
enabled the rebuilding program to switch over to the AANBUS modular construction that is so characteristic of ANARE's continental stations today.
Icebird's bow was constructed to the latest ice-breaking
Icebreaker
An icebreaker is a special-purpose ship or boat designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters. Although the term usually refers to ice-breaking ships, it may also refer to smaller vessels .For a ship to be considered an icebreaker, it requires three traits most...
design, which its owners claimed would allow it to break one year old ice with continuous speed, and so avoid the constant threat to Antarctic shipping: besetment (being surrounded by ice without helm control).
The vessel was also equipped with a temperature-controlled double skin for both the cargo holds and engine room, maintained by circulating pre-heated fuel around the ship. It carried a helicopter and specially strengthened flight deck. The 'tween-deck hatch covers doubled as pontoons, accompanied by an ice-strengthened pusher barge, features which would permit offloading cargo in remote areas.
"It was a standard box construction, superstructure aft with side cranes. But it gave you tremendous capability - you just opened the top of the ship ... and dropped everything in and closed it up and off you went." John Whitelaw, the Acting Assistant Director of Operations, described the ship's unique cargo facilities.
"Icebird was fitted with a detachable accommodation module which could carry 100 passengers. It was clamped to the ship in front of the bridge, and was secured with bolts..." Interview with John Whitelaw and Annie Rushton, ANARE Jubilee Project, 21 August 1995
Fitout
Icebird fitments include:- dishwashers
- videos
- bar
- two-bed hospital and surgery
- air-conditioning
- laundry service
Master
The Master for many years in the 1980s was Captain Ewald Brune (1951-) from Germany. His experience has been achieved through 88 voyages or 25 years of Polar Maritime activities in all regions of Antarctica.Rescue of the crew and expeditioners from the Nella Dan
The Icebird participated in the rescue of over 100 expeditioners and crew from the Nella DanNella Dan
MV Nella Dan was one of the famous 'Dan' ships of the Danish J. Lauritzen A/S Lines that were almost synonymous with ANARE shipping through the early years of Australia's official Antarctic program...
which was wrecked on Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
on the evening of 3 December 1987, during resupply operations at Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
.
At the time the Icebird was returning to Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
from Davis Station
Davis Station
Davis Station is a permanent base in Antarctica managed by the Australian Antarctic Division . It is the busiest Australian scientific research station...
in Antarctica. The Icebird was immediately despatched to Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
to pick up the personnel and crew from the Nella Dan. She arrived at Buckles Bay on 8 December 1987.
Decommissionment and revival
The Icebird remained on charter to ANARE until 1994, when it was decided that Australia's Antarctic program should revert back to a one ship option as a cost cutting measure, one which aroused considerable concern within the ANARE community.Only two years later, during the 1995-96 season, the Aurora Australis
Aurora Australis (icebreaker)
Aurora Australis is an Australian icebreaker. Built by Carrington Slipways and launched in 1989, the vessel is owned by P&O Polar, but is regularly chartered by the Australian Antarctic Division for research cruises in Antarctic waters and to support Australian bases in Antarctica.-Design and...
was temporarily out of service, and a replacement ship was hired - the Icebird. Reborn under the new name of Polar Bird, and now with Norwegian owners, the Polar Bird has been chartered several years since by ANARE.