RV Araon

RV Araon in 2016
History
South Korea
Name	Araon
Operator	Korea Polar Research Institute, South Korea
Builder	Hanjin Heavy Industries, Yeongdo shipyard, Busan[1]
Cost	108 billion won[2]
Laid down	May 2008[3]
Launched	June 11, 2009[1]
Completed	September 2009[4]
Homeport	Incheon, South Korea
Identification	IMO number: 9490935 MMSI number: 441619000 Callsign: DSQL7
Status	In service
General characteristics
Type	Research ship[4]
Tonnage	6,950 GT[4]
Length	109.5 m (359 ft 3 in)[4]
Beam	19.0 m (62 ft 4 in)[4]
Depth	9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)[4]
Ice class	KR PL-10 (DNV Polar-10)[3]
Installed power	Four diesel engines (4 × 3,400 kW)[3]
Propulsion	Diesel-electric Two azimuth thrusters Two bow thrusters[3]
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) (service) 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) (max)[4] 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1 m (3 ft 3 in) ice[3]
Range	20,000 nautical miles (37,000 km; 23,000 mi)[4]
Endurance	70 days[4]
Boats & landing craft carried	10 m barge capable of carrying 20 ft (6.1 m) container 7 m work boat[3]
Capacity	31 TEU on deck, 15 TEU in cargo hold[3]
Crew	25 Up to 60 scientific personnel[4]

RV Araon is a large icebreaker operated by the Government of South Korea.[5] The vessel was commissioned in 2009. She supplies the King Sejong Station, and the Jang Bogo Station, South Korea's second Antarctic research station.

She underwent her sea trials in January 2010, in the Ross Sea.[6][7] Her first foreign port of call was Lyttelton, New Zealand.[8][9][10]

The first location her crew investigated, for a South Korean Antarctic base, in the Cape Burks area, was not deemed suitable, and she then investigated the selected site in Terra Nova Bay.[8][9]

In December 2011, she was instrumental in the rescue of the Russian trawler Sparta, trapped in Antarctic sea ice.[11]

Her class notation is KRS1-Special purpose ship (Research vessel) PL10, DAT (-30 deg. C), HMS1, KRM1-UMA3, DPS2, NBS2.[4]

References

1. "HHIC launches ARAON, the first Korean-made icebreaking research vessel". Hanjin Heavy Industries. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
2. "ARAON research ice breaker". KOPRI. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
3. "Korean Icebreaker 'Araon'". KOPRI. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
4. "ARAON Korean Research Icebreaker" (PDF). KOPRI. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
5. Yonn Gong (2010-01-12). "S. Korean icebreaker begins first Antarctic voyage". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2012-03-11.
6. "Korean Icebreaker to visit Lyttelton on its maiden voyage". Scoop Independent News. 2010-01-06. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04.
7. "Breaking the ice". Joongang Daily. 2010-01-27. Archived from the original on 2010-10-21. The Araon arrived in Cape Burks on the 24th to research the area's weather and ice conditions, and will conduct ice-breaking tests for 10 days to assess whether it can be officially designated as an icebreaker.
8. "Korean icebreaker ready to explore Antarctic station candidate site". Korea Herald. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. The 7,487-ton icebreaker and research ship left Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan. 12. On Saturday it completed its survey of the Cape Burks area and began sailing toward Terra Nova Bay.
9. "Korean Icebreaker Succeeds in Antarctic Mission". Chosun Ilbo. 2010-02-01. Archived from the original on 2011-06-21.
10. Choi Won-young (2004-02-04). "Araon Crew Members Explore Icebergs in Antarctica". Arirang. Archived from the original on 2012-02-23.
11. "Rescuers reach stricken Russian ship the Sparta". The Australian. Associated Press. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011. "Rescuers reach stricken Russian ship the Sparta | the Australian". Archived from the original on 26 December 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2021.