The flagship of the Ukrainian research fleet is in dry dock for scheduled technical servicing. The work is being carried out in Cape Town (South Africa), where “Noosfera” is based between Antarctic expeditions.
According to Captain Pavlo Panasyuk, this time they plan to clean and paint the underwater part of the hull, service the propeller, sea valves, and other elements.
Additionally, the navigation equipment will be upgraded. Specifically, modern sonar systems will be installed to reliably determine depths and monitor the seafloor’s contours.
In the engine room, scheduled maintenance of main and auxiliary mechanisms, systems, and equipment is ongoing. Specialists are checking their condition and preparing the vessel for long-term operation.
A strict inspector—a seal—is watching over all the work right in the dock. It seems he has decided that the technical team definitely cannot manage without his vigilant oversight.
Currently, “Noosfera” is preparing for its sixth Antarctic season. We remind you that the vessel set off on its first voyage under the Ukrainian flag a month before the full-scale invasion of Russia. Since then, the vessel has been delivering cargo and polar explorers to the Vernadsky station, ensuring logistics for other Antarctic stations and conducting numerous studies in the Southern Ocean.
Photo: Pavlo Panasyuk, Yevhen Prykladov, Yuriy Tkachenko
