S. A. Agulhas II is a South African icebreaking polar supply and research ship owned by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.

During a voyage to the Weddell Sea in February and March 2022, the Agulhas II served as the mother ship for the Endurance22 Expedition of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust.

Using a submersible vehicle, participants in the expedition located the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, at a depth of 11,000 ft (3,400 m) beneath the surface on the floor of Weddell Sea.

[5][6] In November 2009 the South African Department of Water and Environmental Affairs signed a 116 million euro (R 1.3 billion) contract with STX Finland for the construction of a new polar research and supply vessel that would replace the ageing S. A. Agulhas, which was scheduled to be retired by 2012.

S. A. Agulhas II is classified by Det Norske Veritas with a class notation 1A1 PC-5 WINTERIZED BASIC Passenger Ship LFL* COMF-V(2)C(2) HELDK-SHF DEICE RP E0 DYNPOS-AUT NAUT-AW CLEAN DESIGN DAT(−35 °C) BIS TMON.

[3] S. A. Agulhas II has eight permanent and six containerized laboratories for different fields of marine, environmental, biological and climate research totalling 800 square metres (8,600 sq ft).

Deep-water probes can be launched either via a large door in the side of the vessel or, if the ship is operating in ice-infested waters, through a 2.4-by-2.4-metre (7.9 by 7.9 ft) moon pool.

A drop keel containing transducers for the measurement of plankton density and ocean currents can be lowered 3 metres (9.8 ft) below the bottom of the ship.

[4] To transport supplies to polar research stations, the ship has a 4,000-cubic-metre (140,000 cu ft) cargo hold located in the bow of the vessel.

[4] S. A. Agulhas II has a hangar and helideck capable of serving two Atlas Oryx or Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopters.