Supply trip to Antarctic Research Stations (vessel charter; round trip) Bremerhaven (GER) - Felixstowe (GB) - Cape Town (ZA) - Neumayer Station III and Halley Station (Antarctic Shelf Ice)

Description

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (Alfred Wegener Institute - AWI) is a research institute in Bremerhaven with over 1,200 employees. The AWI is primarily active in the cold and temperate regions of the world. Working together with numerous national and international partners, the AWI is actively involved in unravelling the complex processes at work in the “Earth System”. Together with British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the AWI requires supply services at their research stations in Antarctic Shelf Ice (Neumayer Station III for AWI and Halley Station for BAS). The BAS is the United Kingdom's national polar research institute with over 400 employees. It has a dual purpose, to conduct polar science, enabling better understanding of global issues, and to provide an active presence in the Antarctic on behalf of the UK. Subject of this tender is a supply trip to Antarctic Research Stations (vessel charter), round trip Bremerhaven (GER) / Felixstowe (GB) / Cape Town (ZA) / Antartic Shelf Ice (Neumayer Station III and Halley Station) and back to transport mixed goods (conventional, bulk, container) including carrier’s stowage, loading and discharge activities on shelf ice (Neumayer Station III) on or around Christmas 2023. Vessel must have at least Ice Class 1A and be Polar Code fitted. Experienced crew and support staff is a prerequisite. Lot 1: The supply of Neumayer Station III and Halley Station with goods for daily needs (provisions, fuel, spare parts) and scientific equipment is an essential part of the summer seasons to ensure the safe operation of the station during the winter months. A window of time between mid-December and mid-February is available for supplies, as this is the time when sea ice conditions are suitable for reaching the ice shelf edge. All cargo will be taken on board the chartered vessel first in Bremerhaven (GER) and then in Felixstowe (UK) and transported directly to the two research stations with a refueling stop and pick-up of additional tank containers (and maybe staff) in Cape Town (ZA). General requirements for the ship: - At least ice class 1A - Cabins for PAX (space for 5-8 PAX should be available on board, as BAS is planning to move PAX for the offloading to from Cape Town to Antarctica and back) - Fuel pumping equipment for transferring fuel from tank containers to fuel storage shoreside - Operations without using ice anchors - Availability of fender - Possibility to get enough flat racks for loading bulk cargo - Vessel must be Polar Code fitted General remarks on the charter: - All port calls and costs associated with the port calls shall be arranged by and accounted for by Charterer. - Loading and discharge to be made by Charterer vessel to pier only. - The freight will be a mixture of containers and breakbulk, including active reefer container and tank container. The temperature stability (-20°C and +5°C – provision of Neumayer-Station III) has to be guaranteed. AWI provides a repair kit, repairs have to be conducted by the ship crew. - Halley Station does not have machinery to unload containers so all containerised cargo must be able to be removed from containers by hand. - Transportation of commercial freight should be possible to reduce the total charter costs. - All shoreside unloading on shelf ice is carried out by the respective station personnel. - All costs for stevedores and appointment of same for stowage on board, is the responsibility of the charterers. - AWI will arrange for pre- and on-carriage. Further informations will be given in the Specifications after the call for competition. Regarding Section II.2.10: Variants are subject of the negotiated procedure. The right to exclude variants is reserved.