RV Kronprins Haakon

Computer rendering of Kronprins Haakon, the new Norwegian polar research vessel
History
Name:	Kronprins Haakon
Namesake:	Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Owner:	Norwegian Polar Institute
Operator:	Norwegian Institute of Marine Research
Ordered:	19 December 2013
Builder:	Fincantieri
Cost:	NOK 1.4 Billion approx. 175 million euro
Laid down:	2 September 2015
Completed:	2017 (planned)
Status:	Under construction
General characteristics
Type:	Research vessel
Tonnage:	9,000 GT
Length:	100 m (328 ft)
Beam:	21 m (69 ft)
Draught:	8 m (26 ft)
Ice class:	Polar Class 3
Installed power:	Four diesel engines (2 × 5 MW; 2 × 3.5 MW)
Propulsion:	Diesel-electric Two azimuth thrusters (2 × 5.5 MW) Two bow thrusters (2 × 1.1 MW)
Range:	15,000 nautical miles (28,000 km; 17,000 mi)
Endurance:	65 days at cruising speed
Capacity:	Accommodation for 55 in 38 cabins 1,180 m3 cargo hold 20 TEU containers
Crew:	15–17
Aviation facilities:	Helipad and hangar

RV Kronprins Haakon is a Norwegian polar research vessel currently under construction at Fincantieri shipyard in Genova, Italy. Scheduled for delivery in 2017, the icebreaking research vessel will be owned by the Norwegian Polar Institute and operated by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.

Development and construction

In 1999, the Norwegian Polar Institute issued a proposal for acquiring a new research vessel to replace the 1978-built Lance, a former fishing and sealing vessel that had been rebuilt as a research vessel in 1992.^[1][2] After a feasibility study was completed in 2007, the design contract was awarded to Rolls-Royce in 2008. The initial design was further developed in close co-operation with the Norwegian Polar Institute and other future users of the research vessel and the Rolls-Royce UT 395 vessel concept was approved by the Norwegian Ministry of Finance in 2011. The funding for the construction of the new research vessel was approved by the Norwegian Parliament and included in the 2013 budget.^[3]

On 29 November 2013, the construction of the NOK 1.4 billion (approx. 175 million euro) polar research vessel was awarded to the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and the shipbuilding contract was signed on 19 December.^[4] The vessel, named Kronprins Haakon after Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, would be built by Genova-based Riva Trigoso-Muggiano shipyard. Final outfitting and sea trials would be carried out at Fincantieri-owned VARD in Norway.^[5][6]

The first steel for the new Norwegian polar research vessel was cut on 15 June 2015 and the keel was laid on 2 September. As of May 2016, Kronprins Haakon is under construction at the shipyard in Genova with launching scheduled for December 2016. The vessel will be transferred to Norway in May 2017 and delivered to the owner in July of the same year.^[4]

Kronprins Haakon will be owned by the Norwegian Polar Institute and operated by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research. The main user of the vessel will be University of Tromsø, also known as the Arctic University of Norway.^[7]

Rolls-Royce later used the experience gained from designing the Norwegian polar research vessel to develop the UT 851 PRV concept for the British Antarctic Survey. The vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough, will enter service in 2019.^[8]

Technical details

With a length of 100 metres (328 ft), beam of 21 metres (69 ft) and draft of 8 metres (26 ft), Kronprins Haakon is the largest Norwegian icebreaker ever built despite being slightly shorter than Svalbard, the 6,375-ton icebreaking offshore patrol vessel operated by the Norwegian Coast Guard. The research vessel has accommodation for 55 personnel in 38 cabins, including a crew of 15–17. She is equipped with hangar for two small to medium-sized helicopters, but the helipad in the bow is strengthened also for the heavier helicopters such as NHIndustries NH90 operated by the Norwegian Coast Guard and Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma search and rescue (SAR) helicopters based in Svalbard.^[3][4]

Like most modern icebreakers, Kronprins Haakon has a diesel-electric propulsion system. Her power plant consists of two 5,000 kW and two 3,500 kW main engines which produce power for two 5.5 MW azimuth thrusters and two 1.1 MW bow thrusters. The propulsion system also gives her Dynamic Positioning (DP) Class 1 stationkeeping capability.^[4] In open water, she has a maximum cruising range of 15,000 nautical miles (28,000 km; 17,000 mi) and endurance of 65 days at cruising speed.^[3] The bollard pull of the vessel is 158 tonnes.^[4]

Kronprins Haakon is strengthened for operation in winter ice with pressure ridges and multi-year ice, and in ambient temperatures of −35 °C (−31 °F). She is designed according to International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Polar Class rules and her ice class, Polar Class 3, is intended for vessels designed for "year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions". A capable icebreaker, Kronprins Haakon can break 1 metre (3 ft) thick ice at a continuous speed of 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) and maintain a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) in 0.4 metres (16 in) thick ice.^[3]

A high-end research vessel, Kronprins Haakon has an extensive scientific outfit for oceanography, marine biology and geology. The main deck is largely dedicated to scientific activities with 15 fixed and three container laboratories, refrigerated storage rooms, large working deck with cranes and an A-frame for trawling, and a hangar and 3-by-4-metre (10 by 13 ft) moon pool for sampling as well as AUV and ROV operations.^[4] Underwater acoustics instrumentation is fitted in two drop keels as well as special "arctic tanks" for operations in ice-covered seas.^[3]

References