Research and Training Vessel News Roundup | August 18 – Russian and US survey boat deliveries, hybrid newbuilding order for California coastal waters

New inland survey boats have been delivered in Russia and the United States while construction is nearly complete on another vessel for the same operator in Russia. A design firm has been chosen for work on a new multidisciplinary research vessel optimised for operation along the California coast.

Large survey boat handed over to US Army Corps of Engineers

Alabama-based Silver Ships recently handed over a new hydrograpic survey vessel to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

The 49-foot (14.9-metre) Tobin was custom-designed to map the mouth of the Mississippi River geographically. Silver Ships said the missions-specific boat will allow researchers to accurately and effectively obtain and document data on the rapid changing waters in the Mississippi River.

Power is provided by two Caterpillar C18 engines. The onboard equipment includes an echosounder.

Tobin will operate alongside the USACE’s other river survey vessels based at Venice, Louisiana.

Russian yard delivers two new survey boats to local operator

Russian shipyard Nefteflot has delivered two new shallow-draught survey boats to local operator Rechvodput.

Gals and Vadim Viktorovsky were built in fulfillment of an order by the Russian Ministry of Transport. Both belong to the eight-strong Project RDB 66.62 series of vessels.

The two newbuilds will be operated in both inland and port waters.

New Russian survey craft floated out

A new survey vessel was recently launched at the facilities of Russia’s Kostroma Shipbuilding Plant.

Promernyy-3 was ordered by local operator Rechvodput. The vessel is nearing completion and is scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks.

A total of 11 vessels from the same series will be delivered to Rosmorrechflot until 2023. All were designed by Gorky Central Design Bureau.

Promernyy-3 will be capable of underwater 3D scanning in support of dredging projects carried out within the jurisdiction of Rosmorrechflot, Russia’s federal sea and inland water transport agency.

Design firm selected for UC San Diego’s new hybrid-hydrogen research vessel

UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography has selected naval architecture and marine engineering company Glosten as the designer for the university’s new coastal research vessel.

The new vessel will be powered by hydrogen-hybrid propulsion system and will be operated along California’s coastal waters. Glosten will provide the preliminary design, contract design, and detailed design for the vessel.

The vessel’s propulsion system will integrate hydrogen fuel cells alongside a conventional diesel-electric powerplant. For longer missions, additional power will be provided by clean-running modern diesel generators.

The proposed 125-foot (38-metre) vessel will be equipped with instruments and sensing systems, including acoustic Doppler current profilers, seafloor mapping systems, midwater fishery imaging systems, biological and geological sampling systems, and support for airborne drone operations. UC San Diego said that these capabilities, along with state-of-the-art laboratories, will enable multidisciplinary research to advance understanding of the physical and biological processes active in California’s coastal waters.