Ukrainian icebreaker “Noosfera” is undergoing scheduled maintenance in Cape Town (photo)

The research vessel is in dry dock in Cape Town (South Africa), where the Noosphere is based between Antarctic expeditions.

This was reported by the National Antarctic Science Center (NASC).  

Captain Pavlo Panasyuk said that this time they plan to clean and paint the underwater part of the hull, service the propeller, bottom and outboard fittings and other elements.

“Separately, navigation equipment will be modernized. In particular, modern echo sounders will be installed, which will help to reliably determine depths and monitor the relief of the seabed,” the captain shared.

In the engine room, scheduled maintenance of the main and auxiliary mechanisms, systems and equipment is underway. Specialists are checking their condition and preparing the vessel for long-term operation.

The NASC also emphasized that a strict inspector — a fur seal — monitors all work right in the dock.

“It seems that he decided that the technical team definitely cannot do without his close supervision,” the scientists joke.

Currently, the Noosphere is preparing for its sixth Antarctic season.

Recall that the icebreaker set off on its first voyage under the Ukrainian flag a month before the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. Since then, the ship has been delivering cargo and polar explorers to the Akademik Vernadsky station, providing logistics for other Antarctic stations, and conducting a number of studies in the Southern Ocean.

As previously reported by USM, in May 2026, the Noosfera icebreaker completed its fifth Antarctic season, during which the ship’s crew made a record 9 voyages to Antarctica and crossed the most turbulent place on the planet, the Drake Passage, 18 times.