A new fleet for state-of-the-art research
Designing for the future
The National Marine Research Facilities (NMF), administered by Royal NIOZ, are, among others, responsible for three, relatively old research vessels for the Dutch marine science community: the Stern for day trips on the Wadden Sea, the RV Navicula for deltas and coastal waters and the oceangoing flagship RV Pelagia. All three ships were built to last 30 years but have by now reached the end of their technological and economic lifespans. For this reason, NIOZ-NMF intends to replace the entire fleet. The preparation process is in full swing.
New Head
Since 1 July 2019, Alex Cofino is the new Head of the National Marine Research Facilities and Project Manager of the Fleet Renewal.
Tentative decision
In April 2019 the board of NWO took a positive ‘intended decision’ on the envisaged investment.
Infrastructure
Under the leadership of NIOZ, a large consortium of national marine research and education institutes applied for a grant from the National Large-Scale Scientific Infrastructure committee for funding the innovative research equipment part of the major new research vessel.
New designs
Interior and exterior designs for all vessels have been contracted to consulting naval architects C-JOB, so as to create a family of ships through identical styling details.
Tender process
The project team continued to develop concept designs and technical specifications required for the tender process and to prepare the technical aspects of the tendering process.
Replacement RV Pelagia
In 2019, consulting naval architects C-JOB continued the concept design of the Pelagia replacement, based on the input and feedback of the user community and the Taskforce. Considerable progress was made on the detailed specifications required for the tender, targeting yard selection by the end of 2020 and earliest possible delivery by the end of 2022.
Replacement RV Navicula
In 2019, consulting naval architects Conoship finished the concept design. The tender process commenced in November 2019. A yard contract is planned for by July 2020 and earliest possible delivery is estimated by Q2 2022.
Replacement Stern
Naval architects Marimecs committed to preparing a detailed design. The tender process will start in Q2 2020, aiming at delivery of the vessel by Q3 2021
Follow the Pelagia and Navicula through 2019
RV Pelagia sailed 238 days for Dutch scientific programmes, with an additional 85 days of transit between the research areas, from South Africa to the North Sea and to the Caribbean.
Navicula sailed mainly in the Wadden Sea and made the transit to Yerseke to work in the Delta in May and September.
Route RV Pelagia in 2019
3.
Thermistor string mooring 1,200 m
7.
Whale prey community research
A selection of fieldwork on RV Navicula in 2019
1.
Catching knots around Griend (COS)
3.
Plastics and Methane (MMB)
4.
Sediment transport (EDS)
5.
Collaboration with German RV Ludwig Prandtl of Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht
6.
Setting up stations for Time Difference of Arrival, tracking of tagged knots (COS)
7.
Project SIBES, Synoptic Intertidal Benthic Survey (COS)
8.
Sediment and water sampling at Eastern Scheldt and Grevelingen (EDS)
9.
Changes in ’t Haringvliet (EDS)
10.
Sediment and benthos (COS)