From Commercial Ice Breaker to Naval Asset
Supporting the UK Royal Navy’s Antarctic Operations
HMS Protector is the Royal Navy’s only Ice Patrol Ship and one of the most recognisable vessels operating in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. Built in Norway in 2001 as the commercial icebreaker Polarbjørn, she was designed for long research expeditions and subsea operations in polar environments.
The Royal Navy chartered the vessel in 2011 as a temporary replacement for HMS Endurance before purchasing her outright in 2013 and commissioning her as the UK’s dedicated ice operations platform.
Key Facts
From Polarbjørn to Protector
Originally built for commercial service, the vessel features accommodation for 100 personnel, dynamic positioning and large open working decks for ROVs and subsea equipment. When the Royal Navy selected her as a replacement for HMS Endurance, she underwent a focused refit including a relocated flight deck, an upgraded multibeam echo sounder and modifications for carrying survey craft, ATVs and small boats for Antarctic fieldwork.
Despite the scope of the refit, the vessel retained the Bergen BR-8 main engines. Their performance in extreme temperatures and their long-range fuel efficiency were already well suited to polar logistics and research operations. The Royal Navy therefore acquired a vessel whose original propulsion system could transition directly into sovereign duties without compromising mission endurance or safety.
Supporting Science and International Commitments
From November to March each year, Protector deploys to the South Atlantic and Antarctic Peninsula where she supports the British Antarctic Survey, conducts hydrographic surveys and carries out inspections under the Antarctic Treaty. During the rest of the year she prepares for the next season through training, maintenance and international cooperation with allied polar operators. The ship regularly reaches some of the most remote and demanding waters on earth and has travelled further south than any UK Royal Navy vessel in more than eighty years.
Protector supports the British Antarctic Survey by transferring personnel, equipment and aviation fuel to remote stations. Her hydrographers chart uncharted waters, update navigational data and monitor environmental changes. The ship also carries out inspections of international research stations to ensure compliance with the Antarctic Treaty, works with allied navies on patrols and contributes to search and rescue and humanitarian missions.
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