UK: Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Protector completes first Antarctic mission.

According to information published by the Royal Navy on January 18, 2022, the Navy’s sole Antarctic research ship HMS Protector has completed her first stint of the year around the frozen continent.
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Ice Patrol Ship HMS Protector (Picture source: Royal Navy)

HMS Protector is a Royal Navy ice patrol ship built in Norway in mid-2000. As MV Polarbjørn she operated under charter as a polar research icebreaker and a subsea support vessel.

In 2011, she was chartered as a temporary replacement for the ice patrol ship HMS Endurance and was purchased by the British Ministry of Defence in early September 2013. As DNV Ice Class 05 the vessel can handle first-year ice up to 0.5 meters (20 in).

Polarbjørn was designed and built for long Antarctic expeditions and for supporting subsea work. Polarbjørn was equipped for the DP2 class and had accommodation for 100.

Large cargo holds and opens deck areas provide storage capacity for ROVs and related equipment. A 50-ton knuckle-boom crane and the 25-ton stern A-frame allow equipment to be deployed over the side and over the stern.