Brazilian research ship Ary Rongel

Ary Rongel (H44) is an ice-strengthened oceanographic research ship of the Brazilian Navy. It was built by the Georg Eide's Sønner of Høylandsbygd, Norway as Polar Queen and was launched on 22 January 1981. It was acquired by the Brazilian Navy in 1994 for the Brazilian Antarctic Program.

Description
As built, the ship was an ice-strengthened research vessel. The vessel measured and, was 65.1 m long overall and 56.0 m between perpendiculars with a beam of 13.1 m. In 1986, the ship was lengthened to 75.3 m long overall and 67.4 m between perpendiculars. The vessel was remeasured as and 1,100 deadweight.

The ship is powered by two MaK 6M-453 diesel engines driving one shaft turning a controllable pitch propeller, one stern thruster and two bow thrusters rated at 4500 hp. The ship is capable of 14.5 kn and has a cruising range of 17,000 nmi at 12 kn.

In Brazilian naval service, the research ship has a standard displacement of 1,928 LT and 3,628 LT at full load. The ship is equipped with a helipad and is capable of operating up to two UH-13 Helibrás Esquilo helicopters. The vessel's cargo capacity in naval service is 2400 m3 and the ship has a complement of 70 including 19 officers and space for 22 scientists.

Service history
The research vessel was constructed at Georg Eide's Sønner in Hoylandsbygd, Norway with the yard number 111. The vessel's keel was laid down on 27 September 1980 and the ship was launched on 22 January 1981 as Polar Queen. Polar Queen was completed in March 1981.

The vessel was put up for sale and was acquired by the Brazilian Navy on 19 April 1994 for use as a polar research ship assigned to the Brazilian Antarctic Program. Renamed Ary Rongel for Admiral Ary dos Santos Rongel, the ship was commissioned into the Brazilian Navy on 25 April 1994 and given the hull number H44. The ship is homeported in Rio de Janeiro.