Alewijnse Marine will supply the full electrical installation on board the Government of Australia’s new, world-beating Antarctic icebreaker.
The Antarctic Supply and Research Vessel (ASRV) will be the centrepiece of the Australian Antarctic Strategy and twenty Year Action Plan and have an operational life of at least thirty years. The icebreaker is the main lifeline to Australia’s Antarctic and sub-Antarctic research stations and the central platform for its Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientific research.
ASRV
The 156-m ASRV is a once-in-a-generation investment for the Australian Government and will be equipped for operations in the most extreme conditions. It will also require all the electrical systems necessary to service 500 m² of laboratory and office facilities for its research activities, as well as a wide range of scientific equipment for sub-surface exploration. The ASRV can accommodate up to 32 crew and 116 personnel.
Electrical Installation
Lead contractor Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, awarded the eletrical installation contract to Alewijnse. Under its terms, Alewijnse will be responsible for the engineering, delivery and installation of the vessel’s entire electrical installation, including the main power installation, the propulsion and thruster control systems and the integrated platform management system.
The build and outfitting will take place at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania. Several Alewijnse business units will support Alewijnse Marine Galati at the Damen yard.
Work is now underway at Alewijnse on the systems design and engineering in partnership with DSNS. Once completed, the yet to be named ASRV will sail to DSNS in the Netherlands for handover to DMS Maritime, the prime contract representing the Australian Antarctic Division. This is scheduled for April 2020.
