RV CELTIC EXPLORER

Vessel Profile

Home port:

Galway, Ireland.

Home port Coordinates:

Latitude: 53.273800 Longitude: -9.051780

Organisation & Address:

Marine Institute

Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland.

Vessel Web site address:

http://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/infrastructure-facilities/research-vessels/celtic-explorer

Link to Vessel Schedules:

http://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/infrastructure-facilities/research-vessels/vessel-schedules?language=en

Normal Area of Operation:

North Atlantic in the area 40-65N, 35W to 10E & on a case by case basis depending on annual operational plan.

Max No of EF+ Days:

Vessel details:

Length	Breadth	Draught	Gross Tonnage	Ice class	DP	Service speed	Max Scientific Berths	No. of EF+ Scientific Berths
65.5 m	15 m	5.8 m	2425 T	Yes 1 D +Polar Code(2020)	Yes DP1	10 knots	21	21

Technical Detail

Laboratory Facilities (fixed and temporary):

Large wet, chemistry and water labs, Dry Lab, fitted with a stainless-steel fish sorting system, freezers (-20, 80°C) and refrigerators.

Capacity to carry 7 x 20ft containerized labs.

Underway T+S, PC02, Fluorometer, Meteorological sensors.

CTD/Plankton sampling:

CTD and Rosette sampler – 2 x SBE 911 CTD with SBE 32 carousel (24 Bottle), 6000m deployment capability.

Towed and lowered plankton nets (Including Multi-net)

Multi-Beam(s)/ Sub Bottom profiling:

Full ocean depth multi-beam system (EM302) to 8000m, Medium and High resolution systems: EM 1002 (1000m), EM2040 (500m).

Fisheries Echo Sounders/Sonar:

EK 60 @ 18,38, 120, 200 Khz, SU92 Sonar

USBL:

Sonardyne Ranger 2 (4000m)

Coring/Sampling Capabilities:

VibroCore (3/6m), Gravity core (3/6m), user corers max 12m. Max deployment depth 5000m. Box Core and Day Grab

Winches:

2x 30t Trawl winches (4500m x 26mm wire), 10 T Coring winch(5000m x 14mm Dynex), CTD winch 6000M X 11mm wire, Hydrographic winch 200m x 12mm dynex, Fibre optic winch 2700m x 10mm wire (Drop Camera)

Communications:

Satellite Broadband system, 2056kbps/512 Kbps, Iridium, GSM phone and VOIP system

Special features:

Silent vessel (ICES 209), Large net drums for mooring and buoy deployments

Suitable for:

Multipurpose silent research vessel. Suitable for carrying out a wide variety of scientific survey operations in offshore and deep-sea locations. The vessel is adapted to accommodate a variety of Remotely Operated Vehicles.

Vessel capable of pelagic and demersal trawling to 2200m, Fisheries acoustic surveys, Hydrographic survey, Oceanographic surveys, Mooring deployments, Seismic surveys, ROV Surveys, Benthic surveys

Scientific Limitations:

Limited to 1500m streamer for seismic.

Vessel capability to support ROV deployment:

Yes, capable, has deck space with 500kva power supply, Dynamic positioning, USBL, Crane and A-Frame for Launch and recovery.

Support Offered to EurofleetsPlus Users:

All vessel equipment will be made available to EurofleetsPlus Users on request. Technical support on vessel equipment will be available during the entire survey.

Vessel availability by location and by year/time of year for Eurofleets+:

Year	Location	Availability by Month	Ports of operation in the period of availability
2020	Normal operating area as above + cruise to East Coast of Greenland August 2020	E.g. 2 weeks July 2020	Galway /Killybegs Bergen (TBC)
2021	Normal operating area as above	2-3 weeks , July, May, August	Galway, Killybegs, Cork
2022	Normal operating area as above	2-3 weeks, July, May, August	Galway, Killybegs, Cork

Contact Details

Applicants are welcomed to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application with the operator of RV Celtic Explorer at rv@marine.ie

Medical certification required for joining the vessel and the list of acceptable certificates.

Up to 12 scientists can be embarked without certification.

For additional scientists above 12 the following certification is required:

STCW Personal survival techniques certificate (5 years’ validity)

STCW seafarers medical (Known as ENG 11 (Irl) or ENG1 (UK) (Validity 2 Years)

Ships security awareness training for seafarers without designated security duties (Valid for life).

Note please contact RV@marine.ie for any queries regarding certification further information here https://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/infrastructure-facilities/research-vessels/vessel-user-information?language=en

Are additional medical checks required

None in addition to STCW seafarers medical

Survival training certification required for joining vessel

List of acceptable equivalent certification:

SCTW Personal survival techniques training

Additional certification required e.g. Ship security awareness / other

Ships security awareness

Diplomatic clearance required for area of operation

Yes, for operation in neighbouring EEZ’s e.g. UK, France, Norway, Spain, Denmark/Faroes (and others as applicable). Required to be submitted to RV@marine.ie 6 months prior to cruise

Additional clearances required for area or type of activity

Additional clearances for operations in Irish Special areas of Conservation if applicable
Seismic operations require additional permits

Link to SAC : https://www.marine.ie/Home/site-area/infrastructure-facilities/research-vessels/vessel-user-information?language=en

Link to Acoustic noise requirements (NPWS): https://www.npws.ie/marine/best-practice-guidelines

Other requirements for other jurisdictions to be addressed via Diplomatic clearance process.

Irelands National Research, 65m long, delivered in 2003. Operates >300 days per annum.