South Africa has signed a R1.3-billion (€117 140 000) contract with a Finnish shipbuilder for a polar vessel to replace the 31-year-old SA Agulhas, the Department of Environmental Affairs said on Tuesday.

The 134-metre icebreaker would be built by STX Finland Oy at the Rauma shipyard in Finland, and delivered to South Africa in spring 2012.

It would serve as a supply, research and expedition vessel.

It would have a landing area for two Puma class helicopters and would feature a gym, library, and a small hospital.

The new ship would carry out the annual relief and supply missions to bases on Marion and Gough islands and South Africa's research base in Antarctica.

Unlike the Agulhas the new vessel would also be a platform for research on climate change and deep sea oceanography.

There would be 800 square metres of labratory and deck work areas for research.

It would have accommodation for 45 crew members and 100 passengers.

The department's Antarctica director Henry Valentine said the commitment of such a lot of money to the new ship reflected the government's commitment to the South African Antarctic programme.

Last month STX Finland Oy delivered the world's largest cruise liner, the R11-billion (€1-billion) Oasis of the Seas, to Royal Caribbean.

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