SENER is awarded the engineering contract to repair and modernise the Argentinian Navy's icebreaker "Almirante Irizar".

In October 2009 the contract came into effect for SENER to carry out the engineering work and provide technical assistance in repairing and modernising the icebreaker Almirante Irizar (RHAI) following the fire it suffered in April 2007. The scope of the contract includes engineering the stripping down of the equipment and damaged structure, the basic and development engineering for all the areas, equipment and systems affected by the repairs / modernisation, and technical support throughout the process, including ocean trials and ice trials.

The ship's last campaign was between December 2006 and April 2007. On the return journey, when 140 miles to the east of Puerto Madryn, a fire broke out in the electric generator room which spread quickly throughout the ship's engine room. It was evacuated and, once the fire had been put out, it was towed to the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base. After assessing the various options, the Argentinian Navy chose to go ahead with the vital repairs and modernisation which are now underway.

The work which began in November 2009 is due to end with ice trials in October 2011, and it is believed that, having been completely renovated and made operational, the ship will be ready for its 2012 Antarctic campaign. The work to repair and modernise the icebreaker will be done in Buenos Aires at the TANDANOR SACYN Shipyard, whose main shareholder is the Argentine state via the Ministry of Defence. The ship is now there.

The planned tasks include:

 Replace around 600 tonnes of steel in the affected areas;

 The propulsion and power generation plants will be replaced by cutting-edge technology;

 The accommodation and work capacity on board for technical and scientific staff will be increased to 313 people;

 The navigation, steering, communication and safety equipment will be replaced by modern equipment fitted with the latest technology. To undertake the engineering and technical support project with guaranteed success,

SENER is preparing the resources to create and provide the shipbuilders with the technical information required within the timescale required. Assisting in this is the office of SENER's Argentinian division in Buenos Aires, very close to the shipyard, while the Madrid and Valencia divisions are also involved.

The work SENER is to carry out covers these areas:

 Engineering to scrap the parts of the ship that were most severely damaged, following the most stringent safety recommendations;

 Basic and detail engineering on the structure ("steels"), weaponry, electricity and fitting out of the areas, equipment and systems that are being renovated and/or modernised;

 Draw up technical specifications for procuring all the relevant equipment and systems;

 Technical support while the ship is being repaired / modernised, including the ocean trials and ice trials;

The work SENER has been awarded demonstrates that TANDANOR is confident that SENER has the competitiveness and competence to cope with complex, large-scale projects in any geographical area.

The original ship's features are as follows:

Full load displacement 14,899 t Length 121.3 m

Breadth 25.2 m Draught 9.5 m

Top of mast above waterline 42.2 m

Decks 12

Dimensions Hull: Special steel panels of different thicknesses:

Ice belt: 47 mm (7 mm wear sacrifice thickness)

Above the ice belt: 37 mm (7mm wear sacrifice thickness)

Stem: Triangular, cast steel beam 45 cm each side.

Sternpost: Rectangular , cast steel beam 50 cm each side.

Frames: Double T-beams, 30 mm thick, separated by 80 cm.

Diesel-electric 4 engines Sempt Pielstick 8 PC-2.5 18,729 HP 4 generators 600 VAC 4,000 KVA

Propulsion 2 double propulsion engines 700 VDC 5,975 kW c/u Maximum

17.2 knots Speed Cruise

14 knots 135 

Crew 45 passengers and scientific staff Endurance 60 days

Transport capacity Holds 1,800 m³

Radar Air/surface search Plessey AWS 2 Navigation 2 KELVIN HUGHES NUCLEUS 6000A radars – 1 RAYTHEON M34 ARPA radar

Helicopters Flight and hangar deck for two Sea King SH-3D helicopters or similar

2 hydrographic launches, 2 LCVP,1 HARDING launch

Other means of transport Pneumatic boats Navigation in continuous ice fields Ice thickness Up to: 1 m Pack-breaking by ramming Ice thickness Up to: 6 m Builders Wärtsilä Shipyard Wärtsilä

About TANDANOR

TANDANOR is one of South America's largest naval repairs shipyards, and has over 100 years' experience in naval repairs and conversions. TANDANOR is strategically located in the port area of the city of Buenos Aires.

www.tandanor.com.ar