Mauric to design new research vessel for France’s DRASSM

French naval architecture firm Mauric has begun collaborating with technology company iXblue and the French Ministry of Culture’s Department of Subaquatic and Submarine Archaeological Research (Direction des recherches archéologiques subaquatiques et sous-marines; DRASSM) on the design of a new vessel capable of missions in the oceanographic, hydrographic, fisheries, geophysical, meteorological, underwater research, and underwater archaeology fields.

The vessel will have a hull made from recycled high quality FRP, an LOA of 46 metres, a beam of 9.2 metres, a draught of 3.2 metres, a range of 3,200 nautical miles, and accommodation for up to 28. A 1,700kW diesel engine will deliver a maximum speed of 15 knots.

Construction will commence in 2020 and delivery to DRASSM is expected in 2021.