A $14 million investment, new fisheries research vessel Dra. Barbieri has been christened at the ASENAV yard in Valdivia, and is intended to support marine research in Chilean waters.
The construction has been funded by the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and is designed specifically for silent running and with a shallow draft to enable it to operate in coastal waters. Dra. Barbieri will become fully operational during the first quarter of this year.
‘With this vessel we are demonstrating the importance that research, marine sciences and fishing activity have for this government,’ said Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture Julio Salas.
‘We have allocated $14.5 million to the construction of this vessel, which will allow specialists to navigate the country’s coasts collecting and analysing information for the benefit of different fisheries. The more and better quality research is done in Chile, the better policies we can promote for the development of fishing activity.’
Dra. Barbieri is named after pioneering fisheries scientist and Doctor of Oceanography María Ángela Barbieri Bellolio, and all the women who, under adverse circumstances, dedicated themselves to marine sciences.
‘Dra. Barbieri is possible thanks to the work of a 100% Chilean engineering team. From Valdivia, we have been able to deliver top-level marine engineering solutions to promote oceanographic research along the entire coast Chilean, even in inland waters, from the Chacao Channel to the Gulf of Penas,’ said Heinz Pearce, general manager of ASENAV
For María Ángela Barbieri, having the coastal research vessel bear her name ‘is a great emotion and pride, especially for my generation. It was difficult for us to move forward, because the doors were closed, little by little times have changed, the locks have opened up and every day more women are joining research. In some way it compensates for quite large efforts that were made at one time.’
‘Research is important because it allows us to make informed decisions,’ she added.
‘With this scientific and oceanographic research ship we would like to compare ourselves with countries that are capable of doing high-level research and quickly and efficiently delivering the results to society so that good decisions can be made and, as the undersecretary of fisheries said, thus improving public policies.’
Dra. Barbieri has an overall length of 30.80 metres and a 9-metre beam. A key feature is its draft of 3 metres, which provides capacity tooperate in shallow waters along the entire coast. Accommodation is for eight scientists and 11 crew.
