The new vessel for Iceland’s Marine and Freshwater Research Institute was launched last week at Astilleros Armón in Vigo.
The 70-metre, 13-metre breadth Thórunn Thórðardóttir HF-300 is designed by Skipasýn and is expected to replace the 53-year old Bjarni Sæmundsson. It is expected to make its delivery trip to Iceland in October this year.
The emphasis has been strongly on making Thórunn Thórðardóttir as green and economic as possible to operate, with diesel-electric propulsion with a large battery pack.
‘The launch of Thórunn Thórðardóttir is an important step,’ said Minister of Fisheries Svandís Svavarsdóttir.
‘This magnificent new vessel promises to revolutionise marine research in Iceland. Marine research is the basis of further progress in the sustainable exploitation of marine resources and greater understanding of the marine environment.’
The new research vessel is named after Thórunn Thórðardóttir (1925-2007), the first Icelandic woman to specialise in marine science.
