The polar expedition vessel RRS Ernest Shackleton is expected to berth on County wharf on Saturday after completing survey work in the Celtic sea.

The ship has been surveying a route for the Celtic Interconnector project. The plan is to develop a high voltage direct current link between Ireland and northwest France.

The route being considered for the Celtic Interconnector runs between the south coast of Ireland and the north west coast of France. The route is approximately 600 km long, of which the subsea element comprises approximately 500 km.

RRS Ernest Shackleton was built by Kverner Klevin Leirvik A/S, Norway as the MV Polar Queen for the Rieber Shipping of Bergen in 1995. Under that name she dry-docked here in the late 1990’s.

Acquired by The British Antarctic Survey in August 1999 she was renamed RRS Ernest Shackleton after Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famed Polar Explorer.

The vessel is ice strengthened and capable of a wide range of logistic tasks as well as having a scientific capability.

Shackleton came to Falmouth in March 1891 onboard the square rigger Hoghton Tower when she arrived from Iquique. Short of provisions Hoghton Tower came here for orders and stores before sailing to Hamburg.

The Nimrod Shackleton’s polar expedition ship anchored off Trefusis in August 1909 after returning from Antarctica. In 1911 Sir Ernest Shackleton opened the Falmouth Flower Show.