Step aboard without leaving your seat
We are excited to announce the go-live of the S.A. Agulhas II 360 Virtual Tour, an immersive digital experience that brings South Africa’s premier polar research vessel into your hands, anywhere in the world. The S.A. Agulhas II 360 tour opens a new window into polar research, education, virtual visits, and public engagement, enabling users to experience and better understand the vessel that supports South Africa’s marine and polar science programmes.
Step aboard and explore the ship like never before, from its advanced laboratories to its ice-strengthened hull, and discover how science is conducted in some of the most extreme environments on Earth.
Digital Twin Technology and 360° Virtual Experiences
360° virtual tours and digital twins provide immersive, interactive representations of real-world environments, allowing users to explore spaces remotely as if they were physically present. In the context of research vessels, these tours provide access to vessels’ facilities and exposure to scientific equipment from anywhere in the world, reducing reliance on physical access and guided tours of research vessels.
How to access the S.A. Agulhas II Virtual Tour
The S.A. Agulhas II Virtual Tour can be accessed from the SAPRI website via the following link.
Descriptions, including views, highlights, and tags, are available to guide your tour and provide additional information about the vessel and its facilities.
A tutorial video and instructions for navigating and using the tour are provided on the web page.
Users
Users of the of the S.A. Agulhas II 360° product include both national and international audiences. Whether you are a researcher, student, educator, collaborator, or simply interested in South Africa’s polar programme, the tour offers an engaging way to experience the ship without having to step on board.
Uses
The 360° tour can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Public engagement and outreach activities
- Introducing new users to the vessel before expeditions
- Training and orientation of expedition participants
- Educational and classroom activities
- Supporting virtual visits and stakeholder engagement
- Showcasing South Africa’s marine and polar research infrastructure to national and international audiences
- Assisting with per-expedition planning and familiarisation with onboard facilities, laboratories, accommodation, and safety areas
- Preserving institutional knowledge by documenting the vessel’s layout and facilities for future users and generations of researchers
This resource was developed with the permission of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Department for granting permission to develop this resource.
The large infrastructures, including the S.A. Agulhas II, are managed and administered by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
By enhancing accessibility to polar research environments, this product supports science communication, education, and broader engagement with marine and Antarctic research efforts. This is another way in which SAPRI ensures seamless access to research infrastructure.
Note to the reader
We invite you to explore the tour and share it with colleagues, students, and networks who may find it useful. We also welcome any comments or feedback, which will help inform future enhancements and refinements to the virtual tour. Planned future developments include more detailed information on the engine room, as well as additional embedded videos to provide greater insight into the vessel’s operations, facilities, and life on board.
Anne Treasure, Asisipo Mboneli, Melissa Philander, Rabia Mathakutha, South African Polar Research Infrastructure, 24 June 2026
