Launching a New Era of Small Boating at Palmer Station

March 27, 2017

National Science Foundation
Office of Polar Programs
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230

The first of two Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) was launched earlier this month at Hero Inlet at NSF’s Palmer Station.

The first RHIB is named Rigil, after Rigil Kentaurus, also known as Alpha Centauri, the brightest star in the constellation Centaurus.

Various characteristics of the RHIBs will benefit the scientific work at the station:

• The RHIBs are specifically built to directly support multidisciplinary scientific sampling efforts.
• The operational range of the vessels is 20 miles, a ten-fold increase compared to existing inflatables. An enclosed space will protect passangers from wind, rain, and cold.
• In addition, the RHIBs have been designed with fully redundant systems, including two engines that can operate individually and independently. Each craft will also draw from two separate fuel tanks.

Read more about the boats here.