Spanish ship builder Freire has awarded a contract to deliver the ship design and equipment systems for a new oceanographic research vessel for Belgium to Rolls-Royce (RR).
The IMO polar code compliant vessel will be designed to carry out research and survey tasks in the North Sea and its adjacent sea areas, but also in the Mediterranean and more northern areas. The research vessel will perform advanced marine research and education at sea. This will include research within the fields of geology and sedimentology, fisheries, biology, chemistry, and oceanography (including meteorology). In addition, the vessel will be part of hydrography campaigns.
Recently, RR also won research vessel contracts for Norway and the UK. These are all advanced, high-tech vessels that will carry out fundamental research at sea and below the seabed.
UT 844 WP Design and Propulsion, Automation and Control Systems
The vessel, which is to replace the current RV Belgica, will be a UT 844 WP design from RR. In addition to ship design, the company will supply the main propulsion system, including side thrusters, Promas integrated propulsion and manoeuvring system, power electric system and steering gear. A vital part of the systems delivery is also automation and control systems such as the propulsion control system, Unified Bridge and dynamic positioning (DP).
The project team responsible for the new research vessel is formed by the Belgian Defence, the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences – Operational Directorate Natural Environment (RBINS-OD Nature).
Freire Shipyard
Detailed engineering and construction will take place at Freire’s shipyard in Vigo, Spain, and the vessel is scheduled for delivery towards the end of 2020. RR currently has design and system deliveries for two other vessels under construction at Freire Shipyard.
