NIOZ AT SEA

A few highlights of the fleet renewal and a selection of the blogs from fieldwork and expeditions at sea. You can follow the progress of the fleet renewal by subscribing to the digital newsletter, the website and social media @ResearchFleetNL.

In June successful modeltests took place at MARIN in Wageningen, using a real scale model of the RV Wim Wolff

RV Wim Wolff

At the beginning of 2021, after years of preparation, the construction of the new research fleet started. On 26 January the NWO-I Foundation Board approved the tendering for the research vessel RV Wim Wolff, which will replace RV Navicula after 40 years of reliable service on the Wadden Sea and in the Zeeland delta.

On 9 November 2021, the festive keel laying and start of the construction of RV Wim Wolff, took place at N. Dijkstra Metaalbewerking in Harlingen. The aluminium hull is built there by order of Thecla Bodewes Shipyards, the main contractor. Tradition has it that a coin is welded onto the keel beam 'for good luck'.

Stop motion video of construction of RV Adriaen Coenen at NG Shipyards

RV Adriaen Coenen

In March 2021 the NWO-I Foundation Board also approved the NIOZ investment for the construction of the second new ship in the national research fleet, the RV Adriaen Coenen. It will replace the seriously outdated Wadden Sea research and support vessel RV Stern.

On 8 July 2021 the construction of RV Adriaen Coenen started with the festive keel laying at Next Generation Shipyards in Lauwersoog. This shipyard has been commissioned by NIOZ following the tender procedure in 2020. The ship will be delivered and put into service in mid-2022.

Illustration RV Anna Weber-van Bosse

RV Anna Weber-van Bosse

The construction of the oceangoing RV Anna Weber-van Bosse, the intended replacement for the flagship RV Pelagia, is under preparation. More information will follow soon. You can follow the construction on www.NewResearchFleet.nl by subscribing to the newsletter or via social media @ResearchFleetNL

Slocum glider reporting for duty

Innovative and advanced research equipment

For the community of marine researchers in the Netherlands, the NIOZ is obtaining three new gliders, which enable very detailed ocean water research for longer periods of time. Professor of Marine Geology Gert-Jan Reichart: “The fast changes in our oceans that are related to climate change and the important role of oceans in mitigating those changes, make it essential for us to carry out measurements with the resolution and precision these gliders offer.”

Watch video >