RV WIM WOLFF
In February 2023, the RV Wim Wolff was christened in its homeport at NIOZ on Texel. This Research Vessel (RV) replaces the RV Navicula, which served for four decades in coastal research. The new vessel was constructed by Thecla Bodewes Shipyards in Harlingen, the Netherlands. The vessel is named after Wadden ecologist Wim Wolff, who played an instrumental role in international mudflat research. With the RV Wim Wolff, the marine science community in the Netherlands has a comfortable, innovative and sustainable vessel for research in the Wadden Sea, the Southwest Delta and the North Sea coast for about four decades. Coastal trends which are now emerging are likely to continue over the life span of the RV Wim Wolff. For instance, the water is getting warmer, sea level rise is accelerating and due to severe droughts and more extreme rainfall, there is greater variation in freshwater inflows to the sea, affecting entire coastal ecosystems and their usage. Because of the great spatial diversity in climate trends and cumulative effects of human activities in coastal areas, the versatile RV Wim Wolff is absolutely essential for researchers to keep their fingers on the pulse of the changing coast.
Starting points of design
The design brief for the RV Wim Wolff, as presented in 2018 to the NWO Executive Board, was put together on the basis of the strategic plan of NIOZ, and in particular the research agendas of the NIOZ departments Coastal Systems (COS) and Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS) and an inventory of the relevant and technically possible functional requirements of all conceivable Dutch stakeholders (marine and maritime sciences). It formed the basis for the concept design for the construction of the new vessel. The design prioritized the strong ambition to make the vessel greener and, in view of the intended shallow waters in which the vessel will travel, to stay within the limits of the maximum dimensions and draught.
For the maritime engineering part of the design, the taskforce worked with the maritime engineering consultancy Conoship BV, located in Groningen. During the design process, the stakeholders were asked to give their advice in different phases and the concepts were continuously evaluated. Feedback was incorporated into the designs as much as possible, always with a view to realising the desired functionalities.
Designing the ship
Henk van der Veer and Bram Fey were closely involved in this pre-construction process. Henk is former head of the NIOZ Department for Coastal Systems and a member of the Taksforce Fleet Replacement. He was the point of contact for research. Bram is the captain of RV Navicula and contributed a lot of practical knowledge.
Sustainability matters in design and construction Wim Wolff
The research vessel will be built to the latest sustainability standards. Together with the site team of shipbuilding specialists, Aarnoud van de Burgt supervises the building process on behalf of NIOZ. He explains how the Wim Wolff is equipped for a sustainable future, but also how sustainability is an important condition in all the choices made during the design and construction of the Wim Wolff.
Total length, Length between perpendiculars ~ 34 m
Breadth moulded, Moulded depth from main deck 3.43 m
Working deck area (gross)
Gross Tonnage approx.
Name The successor of the Wadden-Delta research vessel RV Navicula is named after Wadden ecologist Wim Wolff (1940-2018). Read more >
Draught Draught (design) 1.00 m Draught (max.) 1.20 m
Air draught Air draught 8.90 m with draught of 1.0 m
Speed 10 kts in transit condition, ~ 8 kts in service conditions
Explore the ship
Milestones
Keel laying
On 9 November 2021, the festive keel laying of the new national Wadden and Delta research vessel, RV Wim Wolff, took place at N. Dijkstra Metaalbewerking in Harlingen. Tradition has it that a coin is welded onto the keel beam 'for good luck'. Under the watchful eye of many guests, this operation was performed by Bram Fey, future skipper of RV Wim Wolff.
Launch
On 16 January 2023 the hull of RV Wim Wolff was launched for the first time. It was transported through the water from Dijkstra Metaalbewerking to Thecla Bodewes Shipyards in Harlingen.
On 26 September 2023 a second launch took place. The ship was then towed to Kampen for the final construction in Kampen.
Related videos
Taking Science to the heart of the Wadden Sea
Keel laying
Under construction
Moving the hull
Launch RV Wim Wolff
Proudly Presenting
43 years on the Navicula: about seabirds, flatfish and pancakes
On Thursday 9 November, the RV Navicula returned to Texel from her last planned cruise for the National Research Fleet. Since 1980, she has made a lot of research possible on water movements, plankton, benthic animals, fish and birds in the Wadden Sea, the Southwestern Delta and the coastal areas of the North Sea. Crew and researchers look back on their experiences with 'the little ship'.
