BIO Hesperides

Hesperides Hesperides A-33
Career (Spain)
Name:	Hesperides
Operator:	Spanish Navy
Port of registry:	Cartagena, Spain
Builder:	Bazán, Cartagena
Laid down:	14 November 1988
Launched:	12 March 1990
Commissioned:	16 May 1991
Refit:	2003-2004
Status:	Active
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,983 t (1,952 long tons) standard 2,750 t (2,707 long tons) full
Length:	82.5 m (270 ft 8 in)
Beam:	14.3 m (46 ft 11 in)
Height:	7.35 m (24 ft 1 in)
Draft:	4.42 m (14 ft 6 in)
Ice class:	1C
Propulsion:	2 × Bazán- M.AN. Burmeister & Wain 14V, 1,904 hp (1,420 kW)
Speed:	14.7 knots (27.2 km/h) 5 knots (9.3 km/h) in ice 0.5 m
Range:	12,000 nmi (22,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance:	120 days
Complement:	29 scientists
Crew:	58
Sensors and processing systems:	2 × DGPS 2 radar ARPA ECDIS GMDSS
Aircraft carried:	1 × Agusta-Bell 212 helicopter
Aviation facilities:	Hangar

BIO Hesperides (A-33), is a Spanish polar research vessel. She was built in 1990, by Bazan Shipyards of Cartagena (Spain). Hesperides is used to service the research bases in Antarctica as well as various research voyages.

Hesperides is a "Lloyd 100 A1 Ice Class 1C". She can move through up to 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) of ice at 5 knots. Her propulsion system uses a computer-controlled variable-pitch propeller and stern and bow thrusters. The vessel carries one helicopter.

In 2003-2004 she was the subject of a thorough renovation, the hull was strengthened even more to break ice, all systems were improved and the habitability of the ship. The vessel is equipped with eleven laboratories, spread over 345 m² and located on the main deck and below. In 2009 the vessel participated in a high profile rescue of the Ocean Nova, a vessel with 106 people in the Antarctic.