Hespérides off Deception Island in January 2013
History
Spain
Name	Hespérides
Port of registry	Cartagena, Spain
Builder	Bazán, Cartagena
Laid down	14 November 1988
Launched	12 March 1990
Commissioned	16 May 1991
Refit	2003–2004
Identification	IMO number: 8803563 MMSI number: 224886000 Callsign: EBBW
Status	Active
General characteristics
Type	Research vessel
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
Installed power	2 × Bazán- M.AN. Burmeister & Wain 14V, 1,904 hp (1,420 kW)
Speed	14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) in 0.5 m (1.6 ft) level ice
Range	12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 12 knots (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 Hespérides (A-33), is a Spanish polar research vessel. She was built in 1990, by Bazán Shipyards of Cartagena, Spain. Hespérides is used to service the research bases in Antarctica, mainly the Spanish Juan Carlos I Antarctic Base, as well as to perform research voyages. It is operated by the Spanish Navy and the responsible of the scientific equipment is the Spanish National Research Council.

Hespérides is classified by Lloyd's Register of Shipping with ice class 1C. She can move through up to 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) of ice at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). Her propulsion system uses a computer-controlled variable-pitch propeller and stern and bow thrusters. The vessel carries one helicopter.^[1][2]

Name

Buque de Investigación Oceanográfica Hespérides, 'Oceanographic Research Vessel Hesperides', is named after Hesperides, the Greek nymphs of the evening, located on the Western Mediterranean.

History

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 Ocean Nova, a vessel with 106 people in the Antarctic^[3] and, in 2010, in the Malaspina Expedition.