Knud E.Hansen and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua) have completed the comprehensive design study for a new multidisciplinary marine research vessel to replace the ageing R/V Dana IV.
The 65m vessel is expected to cost around €45.5m and will be designed for cost‐effective fish stock assessment, hydro-acoustic studies and biological, chemical and physical oceanography based on DTU Aqua's expected service profile in 2023.
Priority will be given to maximum capacity for hydro-acoustic scientific performance, high efficiency in fish-stock monitoring, versatile design for year-round operation in the North Sea and Baltics and summer/autumn operation in Arctic waters and low operational costs.
The vessel is designed for class notation DNVGL ✠ 1A, SPS, EO, DYNPOS (AUTS), PC (6), and to comply with the ICES CRR 209 standard for low underwater radiated noise emission. She will be capable of world-wide operation including up to 80°N depending on ice.
With room for 34 crew the vessel will be equipped with a full suite of hydro-acoustic transducers, multiple laboratories, trawl gear and cranes which can sample water up to depths of 3,000m.
The acoustic transducer suite can carry out a full range of surveys, such as bottom mapping, sub‐bottom profiling, current profiling, 3D visualisation of fish stocks and biomass estimation.
The deck is equipped with a bolt grid for flexible arrangement of the research gear combined with up to four ISO 20ft containers. The side bulwark for the trawl lane, as well as the transom bulwark aft and the starboard side can be removed, so that the overall multi‐deck area can be expanded to include the trawl lane.
