Spain’s Freire Shipyard has contracted Longitude Engineering for the basic design of a newbuild research vessel that it is building for IFREMER, the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea.
Longitude Engineering has a track-record of over 100 vessels constructed to its designs across a range of marine sectors. It also has an in-house vessel design bureau, OSD-IMT, which joined the company in 2021.
“This contract award is a great validation of our team’s specialist skills and experience as well as the ship design portfolio and track record in developing modern and low-emission vessels,” Longitude Engineering’s Managing Director – Maritime Dean Goves said.
The newbuild will be based on the OSD-IMT2006 design for a fishery research vessel with a low transmitted noise signature. The design will focus on low fuel consumption and emissions, powered by a diesel electrical hybrid propulsion. It will also be designed to house large laboratory and mission areas.
Once the research vessel has been built by Freire Shipyard, IFREMER will use it in Atlantic coastal areas, for research across all oceanographic disciplines including geosciences, ecosystem functioning, and other purposes related to the protection of fisheries.
“Working with Freire, a high quality and professional shipyard, and France’s renowned ocean science research institute, is such an honour and perfectly aligned with our principles at Longitude Engineering, to drive sustainability across our marine landscapes. This vessel will play a key role in supporting IFREMER’S important work in the protection of France’s marine environments. It is great to have the opportunity to contribute,” Longitude Engineering’s Lead Naval Architect Duncan Grigg said.
The vessel design builds on Longitude’s track record in developing research vessels, including the RV Legend for the Taiwanese Ocean Research Institute (TORI), as well as in their track-record in engineering, design and analysis of hybrid electrical models as an alternative fuel.
The newbuild vessel will be 40 metres in length, with a beam of 10.35 metres and a limited draft. It will accommodate 12 crew and 10 scientists, allowing for training campaigns with teachers and students onboard. Longitude will supply the basic design package to Class approval level, with Freire carrying out the detail design.
Longitude Engineering is part of Oslo-listed, global energy and marine consultancy group ABL Group ASA.
