[imagesource:wikicommons]

After the recent sweltering heat in Cape Town, a trip down south to colder climates sounds like just the ticket.

Thanks to a partnership between the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) and Germany’s JS Maritime, the flagship SA Agulhus 1 will be more accessible for tourists as it conducts research in Antarctica.

Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, attended an on-board ceremony on Tuesday to officially hand over the ship to JS Maritime, saying, “The partnership we have nourished and are undertaking here today, through the repurposing of SA Agulhas 1 will go a very long way towards meeting the dreams of multitudes of young people, the realisation of which is entrusted in the offices we all hold.”

The Seafarer Career and Development Programme (SEDP), a new initiative aimed at improving maritime career opportunities for South African seafarers, was also launched.

SEDP will train, coach, and assist eligible seafarers with job placement. It will also serve as an international collaborative marine research facility, addressing the maritime sector’s ever-changing demands.

According to Stefan Bulow, chief executive of JS Maritime, seafarer cadets will be eligible for employment after their training is complete.

“We want to see seafarers on board. There is a lot to do. We’re not just going to give the ship a future; we’re also going to offer an elderly lady a second chance,” added Bulow.

Tourism and scientific research will be important parts of the repurposed Agulhas 1.

SA Agulhas is an ice-strengthened training ship that was used for polar research after its launch in 1978. It used to support the three South African National Antarctic Programme research facilities, Gough Island, Marion Island, and SANAE IV, as well as different research expeditions. She was eventually replaced by the SA Agulhas II in 2012.

After a week of crazy hot Cape Town weather, Antarctica sounds very inviting.

[source:iol]