Focus on Research and Training

This month’s reviews of newly delivered research vessels cover a broad geographical scope that includes Europe, the US, and the Far East. Some vessels are configured for operating in harsh environments while others are limited in endurance but are nonetheless capable of performing a range of scientific support roles.

Marine Research • Maritime Training • Maritime Archaeology

One of the notable vessels to be featured this week is a large ice-resistant research platform built by a Russian shipyard. The 10,000-tonne vessel has an unusual egg-shaped hull design that nonetheless ensures improved ice navigation capability, allowing it to stay out at sea for up to two years.

Vessel Reviews:

• Bei Diao 996 – New Chinese-built deep-sea research and testing support ship
• Belgica – Belgian Navy’s new oceanographic research vessel
• RIB daughter craft to support NOAA’s ocean-going assets
• Aurelia – Research submersible delivered to Norwegian non-profit
• Severnny Polyus – Large ice-capable research vessel for Russian northern Arctic operations

Features and Opinion:

FEATURE | French consortium to develop new Arctic research station

– “The objective is to establish a drifting observatory and laboratory to study the ecosystems of the central Arctic ocean.”

News and Gear:

• Research vessel purchase, fisheries hatchery upgrades covered in Michigan’s 2023 state budget
• Chinese yard launches 123m hydrographic survey ship
• First steel cut for third US National Security Multimission Vessel
• New research and rescue submarine delivered to Russian Navy
• Irish-Portuguese partnership to collaborate on Atlantic Ocean marine research
• US Navy confirms destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts wrecksite off Philippines

Recent Important Features:

REMINISCENCES | The white dot (another shark story)

– “The whole encounter did not last more than 10 seconds and at the end of this short bit of time, judging from its behavior, I think I scared the shark.”

– by Bob Iversen, retired Hawaii fishery biologist and former US Navy officer

Remember to come back every day to see the latest news, opinion and vessel reviews!

Call for content!

Any news or views about the marine research and training industry? Send it through to [email protected] ASAP (between now and July 22), so we can add it to this current edition of Research and Training Week!

We are after:

• Vessels – Orders, new deliveries, under construction
• Gear – Latest innovations and technology in the marine research and training sectors
• Interviews – Owners, operators, marine research institutes, maritime training schools, etc.
• Reminiscences – Do you have any exciting, amusing or downright dangerous anecdotes from your time in the research and training vessel world? (example here)
• Other – Any other relevant news

Stay updated on future Research and Training Weeks