The Freire Shipyard in Vigo has launched the new research vessel that will replace Ifremer’s Thalia when it enters service in 2026. The new Anita Conti is named in honour of France’s first female oceanographer, as a tribute to her pioneering legacy in the exploration and study of the sea.
This sophisticated new vessel will be capable of operating advanced underwater vehicles such as AsterX, IdefX, UlyX and Ariane.
‘Anita Conti represents a decisive step towards a more modern, multipurpose and environmentally friendly scientific fleet, reinforcing our operational capabilities,’ said Olivier Lefort, fleet director in charge of Ifremer’s oceanographic vessels.
‘The construction of this vessel confirms Freire Shipyard as an international benchmark in the construction of oceanographic vessels. We are proud to collaborate with Ifremer on a project that meets the highest scientific and environmental standards,’ stated Marcos and Guillermo Freire, general managers of the shipyard.
The 45-metre, 11.50-metre breadth Anita Conti is designed to conduct research operations in coastal areas in mainland French waters such as the Bay of Biscay and the Channel, but may also be deployed at intervals off the coast of Africa and in the Antilles and French West Indies-Guyana zone.
Accommodation on board is for a crew of 12 people and ten scientists.
Anita Conti stands out for the wide range of energy-saving technologies and low-consumption initiatives, ranging from the design of the hull, to the design of the electrical plant, the energy distribution system, the heat recovery system, the level of thermal insulation to the efficiency of the air conditioning.
The diesel-electric propulsion system will be composed of three variable-speed, biodiesel-compatible generator sets feeding two shaft lines driven by electric motors and a direct current (DC) electrical distribution system. Together with a battery pack, this will enable excellent energy efficiency, optimisation of consumption, operational redundancy and compliance with acoustic requirements according to BV COMF 2 class notation and DNV SILENT-F standard. The dynamic positioning system and the electric bow thruster support the vessel’s manoeuvrability.
Anita Conti will be equipped with a gondola under the hull housing all the acoustic transducers that will enable it to explore and map the seabed and water column. It also has laboratories and a scientific PC. The vessel will have an oceanographic marine telescopic main crane at the stern for marine use for launching and retrieval of scientific equipment and general manoeuvring at the stern of the vessel. In addition, it will have an A-type stern gantry, a T-type side gantry. For scientific fishing operations, this vessel will also have two trawling winches and a removable net drum.
