Norwegian naval architect Skipsteknisk has been awarded the design contract for Ireland’s new fishery and oceanographic research vessel. The Marine Institute in Galway intends to replace the 21-year-old Celtic Voyager with a new and larger vessel.
The contract was signed in Dublin and includes design and engineering, class and construction drawings. Skipsteknisk will also supervise the construction of the vessel throughout the construction and test period.
Skipsteknisk has extensive experience in designing this type of research vessels and the contract was secured against strong international competition. Skipsteknisk has previously worked for Marine Institute, the company also designed the research vessel Celtic Explorer which was completed in 2003.
The new ship is to be built to be arranged for scientific operations within fishery research as well as oceanography, bottom mapping, environmental research and meteorology. The vessel will have a length about 50 metres and be designed with high focus on low emissions, low energy consumption and low underwater radiated noise.
The shipbuilding contract is to be tendered in second half of 2019 and awarded before the end of this year.
