RV Laura Bassi icebreaker

RV Laura Bassi (fka "RRS Ernest Shackleton") is an icebreaking vessel used primarily as a logistics (research/survey/cargo) supply ship supporting polar (Arctic and Antarctic) scientific research operations. When operated by the UK, her itineraries were roundtrips to Antarctica from the homeport of Port Stanley (Falkland Islands). When not deployed in Antarctica, the icebreaker was available for private charter, including expedition cruises. "RV" stands for "Research Vessel," while "RRS" stands for "Royal Research Ship."

RRS Ernest Shackleton was bareboat-chartered from her former shipowner (GC Rieber Shipping / Bergen Norway) to the UK's Royal Geographical Society. The charter ended on April 30, 2019. On May 9, 2019, the vessel was sold (for EUR 12 million / ~USD 14 million) to DSB (Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche / Italy's Department of Biomedical Sciences), renamed "LAURA BASSI," and sent to Norway for a drydock refit. Since then, she has been operated by CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche / Italy's National Research Council).

Royal Research Ships are UK merchant navy vessels conducting scientific research on behalf of the British Government (HMG). Organizations authorized to operate RRS vessels include NERC ("Natural Environment Research Council"), BAS ("British Antarctic Survey"), and NOC ("National Oceanography Centre"). A royal warrant is required for a vessel to be designated as RRS. The UK's current fleet of Royal Research Ships includes the following vessels (year built in brackets): RRS James Cook (2007), RRS Discovery (2013), and RRS Sir David Attenborough (2019).

The icebreaking vessel (IMO number 9114256) was launched under the name "MV Polar Queen." The former shipowner (GC Rieber Shipping) operates offshore and subsea support vessels, as well as marine seismic ships. Some of its vessels are chartered for logistics, research, and polar expedition cruises.

For 20 years (August 1999 through May 2019), RRS Ernest Shackleton was operated by BAS (British Antarctic Survey) under a long-term bareboat charter. She was named after Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922), the British polar explorer who led three Antarctic expeditions: the "Discovery Expedition" (1901–1903), the "Nimrod Expedition" (1907–1909), and the "Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition" (1914–1917).

Prior to 2019, the vessel was Falklands (UK)-flagged (MMSI 740357000) and registered in Port Stanley. Since 2019, she has been Italy-flagged (MMSI 247405400).

The Ernest Shackleton gained worldwide attention after being chartered by Crystal Cruises to escort the cruise ship Crystal Serenity through the Canadian Arctic via the Northwest Passage in 2016 (August 16 through September 16, from Seward Alaska to NYC New York).

CNR (Italy's National Research Council / shipowner) is a Rome-headquartered public organization supporting scientific and technological research. CNR oversees the programs and activities of numerous research institutes in Italy, including departments specializing in Biomedical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Technologies, Earth System Sciences and Environmental Technologies, Chemical Sciences and Materials, Engineering-Energy-Transportation Technologies, Agricultural and Food Sciences, as well as Humanities and Social Sciences.

Laura Bassi / Shackleton icebreaker vessel details

The icebreaker features an ice-strengthened double hull and an icebreaking capacity of up to 2.5 m (8 ft). She is equipped with a cargo tender used for ship-to-shore supply transfers when she cannot berth alongside.

The list of onboard machinery and facilities includes:

• Dry Lab (45 m2), Wet Lab (45 m2), and two containerized labs (deck-mounted)
• Telescopic crane (aft, 10 tons), ROV crane (5 tons, upper deck), cargo crane (30 tons), offshore crane (50 tons)
• Dynamic positioning system (AUT-R), hydrographic echo sounder, bottom mapping system (Simrad), sonar room
• Helipad (18 m / 60 ft diameter, max helicopter weight 10 tons), upper cargo hold (convertible to hangar)
• MOB boat (high-speed rescue boat)
• Waste management equipment (oily water separator, incinerator, garbage compactor, wastewater treatment plant)
• Two stabilizing water tanks
• TV monitoring system (20 CCTV cameras)
• Two "Bergen Diesel BRM 6" marine engines (combined power output 5100 kW)
• Propulsion via three fixed thrusters (608 kW each) and one forward azimuth thruster (811 kW)
• Displacement: 4028 tons
• Deadweight: 1800 tons
• Maximum draft: 7 m (23 ft) fully loaded
• Icebreaking capacity: 2.5 m (8 ft)
• Ice class: DNV GL ICE-05
• Range: 74,000 km (46,000 mi)
• Endurance: 130 days
• Capacity: 80 persons (passengers and crew)
• Diesel fuel capacity: 1380 m3
• Aviation fuel capacity: 195 m3
• Freshwater capacity: 165 m3
• Fuel consumption: 9.5 tons (diesel) per day at cruising speed of 12 knots

The vessel has one aft-located helipad but does not carry a permanently assigned helicopter.

This icebreaking vessel undergoes annual refit and drydock maintenance.

For safety reasons, passengers (scientists and cruise guests) are not permitted in the following areas unless specifically authorized: Navigation Bridge, Engine Room, machinery spaces, galley, engineering workshops, and crew-only areas (cabins, Crew Mess Room, Crew Bar).

Scientific staff are accommodated in 2-, 3-, and 4-berth cabins, each equipped with an en-suite bathroom (shower and WC with vacuum-flush toilet). Linens are changed weekly. In addition to the main laundry, the vessel has a self-service laundrette (two washing machines and two tumble dryers). Cabins should remain unlocked while at sea and locked only when in port.

Public areas include a Bar, Gym (exercise equipment), Sauna Room, Green Room (TV lounge), and a hospital with a resident doctor.

Note: In cases of poor AIS coverage, tracking the vessel’s current location may not be possible. You can view CruiseMapper’s list of all icebreakers and icebreaking research ships in the "itinerary" section of our Icebreakers hub, where all states and their fleets are listed.