Ukrainian icebreaker Noosfera reached the Antarctic

The Ukrainian research ship Noosfera has successfully reached the shores of the Antarctic.

The National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine reported this.

The icebreaker left for its second Antarctic mission with a joint Polish-Ukrainian expedition on board in late December 2022.

On January 21, Pavlo Panasyuk, Captain of the Noosfera, announced the arrival at the Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station.

“On the way from Cape Town (South Africa), a 3759-mile (more than 6 thousand kilometers) long journey, the ship was hit by storms and passed huge icebergs, but the team successfully overcame all the challenges,” the NAC reported.

After delivering the Polish polar researchers and equipment to the Arctowski Station located on King George Island in the West Antarctic, the Noosfera will leave for the Vernadsky Station.

Technical workers who must complete urgent work will be delivered to the Ukrainian station.

Icebreaker Noosfera

The Noosfera is a former British James Clark Ross research vessel. The ship received its new name on October 29, 2021, in Odesa.

On August 19, 2021, the National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine and the Research and Innovation institution of Great Britain signed a purchase act for the vessel. On August 30, 2021, the Ukrainian flag was raised over the flagship of the Ukrainian research fleet.

At the end of January 2022, the icebreaker embarked on its first mission.

On 27 May 2022, the Noosfera research vessel arrived at Cape Town Port, ending its first Antarctic mission.