| The bow was designed in a spoon-shaped configuration with an ice-knife or skeg for cutting ice and pushing it aside. Capable of continuos operation through ice up to three feet thick the hull was constructed of high quality welded steel. The hull is shaped to direct the broken ice up and over the propellers. Special viewing ports were constructed so the engineers could observe and monitor this flow of ice at all times. An air-bubbler system, special hull coatings and a hull lubricating system provide additional friction reduction for ice movement past the hull. Nine bulk storage tanks immediately behind the forecastle deck are used to carry bulk cement and barite for drilling operations. The after deck is used to carry deck cargo. Ballast tanks are used to trim the vessel and to assist in icebreaking. Huge pumps can cause the ship to heel over in less than a minute. To assist in ship operations the bridge and wheelhouse is almost completely glassed-in from deck to deckhead. The crew complement is 14 officers and crew members but a further 12 passengers can also be carried. Amenities for the crew include a sauna, lounge and library. |
