South Africa’s Historic Antarctic Research Vessel SA Agulhas Set To Be Auctioned

South Africa’s historic Antarctic research vessel SA Agulhas is set to be auctioned early next year after being placed under judicial arrest in the Port of Durban.

The Durban High Court has appointed Solution Strategists to conduct the auction, which will take place online via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, 22 January 2026.

The vessel will be auctioned from Berth 205 at the Durban International Container Terminal. Bidders will need to pay a refundable registration deposit of $50,000 to take part.

The auctioneers have made key documents available, including the court order, ship papers and an independent condition survey.

The SA Agulhas is a steel-hulled, ice-strengthened research and supply vessel measuring nearly 112 metres in length and with a gross tonnage of about 6,123 tonnes.

Built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in the late 1970s, the ship was designed for long missions, with a range of around 15,000 nautical miles and the ability to remain at sea for up to 90 days.

For more than 30 years, the vessel supported the South African National Antarctic Programme, carrying scientists, crew and supplies to some of the most remote and challenging regions in the world.

It regularly sailed to Marion Island, Gough Island, and the SANAE Antarctic research station, supporting research in oceanography, climate science and marine biology. The ship was also used to train maritime cadets and students.

The SA Agulhas was retired from polar service in 2012 after the commissioning of the SA Agulhas II, a newer and larger icebreaking research vessel owned by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Based in Cape Town, SA Agulhas II continues to support South Africa’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean missions and has taken part in internationally significant operations, including missions related to the search for Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance wreck in the Weddell Sea.

Although retired from government service, the original SA Agulhas continued operating under private ownership. However, after completing two scientific charter voyages earlier this year, the vessel was placed under judicial arrest in Durban due to financial problems. Per reports, creditors took legal action, while crew members had gone unpaid for several months.

The auction is taking place less than two years after the South African government transferred the vessel to German company J*S Maritime in January 2024, following years of efforts to sell it.

At the time, the new owners planned to refurbish the ship for expedition work, including polar tourism, while continuing to use it for seafarer training.

Under the sale agreement, the vessel was expected to support the Seafarer Employment and Development programme and was seen by maritime observers as an important training ship for South African cadets. With the vessel now set for auction, there are concerns that the training programme could be affected.

In an effort to prevent the sale, ownership of the SA Agulhas was transferred mid-year to HF Offshore Services Mexico. However, the company was facing legal issues in Mexico and was unable to improve the vessel’s financial position.

Reference: algoafm

Source: Maritime Shipping News