Research and Training Vessel News Roundup | August 8 – Canadian ROV, Australian training vessel refit and more

An Australian training provider places one of its vessels back into service following a modernisation program as Russia’s defence ministry takes delivery of a hydrographic survey boat. A Canadian university will expand its fleet of research assets with the upcoming delivery of an unmanned craft. Finally, a French ocean science organisation taps a Spanish yard for the construction of a new multidisciplinary vessel designed for the Atlantic.

Western Australia vocational college welcomes rebuilt training vessel back into service

Western Australia-based boatbuilder Dongara Marine has completed upgrade works on an existing vessel operated by local vocational college Central Regional TAFE.

The recently completed AU$2 million (US$1.3 million) upgrade program on the training vessel Master Class includes installation of new engines, gearboxes, navigational systems, and air conditioning systems.

The rebuilt vessel will be operated out of Central Regional TAFE’s Batavia Coast Maritime Institute to provide training in fishing boat operations, boating services, and marine engine operations. It will also support on-water activities for components of other training programs such as aquaculture, tourism, coastal conservation, and land management in the region.

New survey boat delivered to Russian defence ministry

Vympel Shipyard, a division of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation, has handed over a new survey vessel to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

The vessel has been named Yakov Lapushkin in honour of a Soviet Navy admiral best known for heading the Soviet Navy’s hydrographic arm during the Second World War.

Design work on Yakov Lapushkin was provided by naval architecture firm Vympel Design Bureau. The vessel’s secondary duties will include pilot transfers.

Canadian university orders marine research ROV

UK-based Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has secured a contract from the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada to supply an electric-powered remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for use by the university’s Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI), School of Ocean Technology.

The primary function of the ROV will be to support ocean research, while it will also be used for pilot technician training. For ocean research operations, the ROV will be required to carry a payload skid for navigation, equipment, and sensors, as well as be capable of manipulation and intervention.

The craft will be equipped for inspection tasks, non-destructive testing (NDT), light intervention, pipeline/cable/seabed survey, diver assist/safety, harbour and port security, scientific survey and data collection, renewable energy projects, civil engineering, long tunnel excursion and for inland waterways. The maximum operating depth is rated at 2,000 metres.

Delivery of the ROV is scheduled for later this year.

French ocean science institute taps Spanish yard for new research vessel

The French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer; Ifremer) has selected Spain’s Freire Shipyard for the construction of a new oceanographic research vessel.

The 40-metre-long, shallow-draught vessel will be deployed in the Atlantic Ocean where it will perform research missions in areas such as geosciences, paleoclimatology, physical oceanography, biogeochemistry, biological oceanography, and ecosystem functioning. The vessel can be operated anywhere from the French coastline to the continental shelf.

Accommodations will be available for a 12-strong crew and up to 10 scientists.