Northern Ireland science institute selects Spanish yard to build future research vessel

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) of Belfast, Northern Ireland, has awarded Spanish shipbuilder Armon a contract for the construction of a new vessel to be used for fishery and oceanographic research.

The vessel will be designed by Skipsteknisk to meet the strict underwater noise requirements defined in the ICES 209 report. It will have a length of 53 metres and will be arranged for a crew of 12 plus 12 scientists.

The vessel will be fitted with a hybrid propulsion system with a large battery pack. This will allow emission-free operations for sustained periods, which will in turn permit the vessel to stay out at sea for a maximum of 21 days.

The propulsion system can also be configured to run on biofuel.

Completion and delivery are scheduled for 2027.

The new AFBI research vessel will replace the 35-year-old Corystes. Its area of operations will encompass Northern Ireland’s coastal waters, the Irish Sea, and adjacent waters.