SA Agulhas II headed to Antarctica again

The icebreaker and polar supply ship SA Agulhas II is set to steam south from Cape Town later this week, environmental affairs announced.

"The SA Agulhas II will be embarking on her second relief voyage to Antarctica on Thursday," it said in a statement.

The ship would drop a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and researchers, as well as supplies, at the SANAE IV base.

The team would be spending 14 months on the ice.

Among the projects planned for the Agulhas during her two-and-a-half-month round trip, was one to gather information about the composition of the Antarctic sea ice, for a better understanding of climate change.

The vessel is expected to dock back in Cape Town on February 13 next year.

It will depart from the East Pier quay at the V&A Waterfront at 1pm on Thursday.