Damen Shiprepair & Conversion Undertaking Oceanographic Research Vessel OceanXplorer

Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam (DSR) will soon deliver oceanographic research vessel OceanXplorer to OceanX following her extensive rebuild. The 87.1-metre vessel, formerly known as Alucia2, will continue the work of her sister vessel Alucia, broadening scientific understanding of the planet’s oceans and revealing its discoveries to the world.

Founded in 2018, OceanX’s mission is to explore the ocean and bring it back to the world. OceanX combines next-gen technology, science, and storytelling to educate, inspire, and connect the world with the ocean and convenes leading scientists, media entities, global leaders, and philanthropy partners to drive towards greater understanding and protection of our oceans.

OceanX’s milestones to date include capturing the first-ever footage of the Giant Squid in its natural habitat and the first-ever 1,000-meter deep sea submersible dives to the Antarctic seafloor.

Image Credits: damen.com

As OceanX believes the ocean is our planet’s most important and least explored natural resource, their team sought to create a state-of-the-art science and media vessel, converting a former oil-survey ship into a one-of-a-kind platform for exploration, science, and storytelling OceanX called upon Damen Shiprepair & Conversion to carry out an extensive scope of work to ready this new vessel, OceanXplorer for the seas.

The work includes, amongst other things, installation of scientific laboratories and research facilities into a vessel offering yacht-standard accommodation.

Image Credits: damen.com

A new sensor platform, called the Gondola, was fabricated and installed beneath the keel and feeds information to the research locations and to the brand-new bridge. All necessary basic and detailed engineering for structural, piping, and electrical works was performed at the Yard.

Furthermore, the work included closure of the vessel’s moon pool, fabrication of box keel and installation of stabilisors, ROVs, and submersibles that will, in future, be launched via a winch and the vessel’s newly installed 40-ton A-frame. OceanXplorer’s fully independent launch systems provide the capability for its ROVs, submersibles, and helicopter to be launched simultaneously.

Image Credits: damen.com

Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam managing director Jan Kees Pilaar said of the project, “This has been an exciting project for DSC to undertake and a fantastic opportunity to participate in something with the potential for significant positive impact on our natural environment and the lives of those living on it. The results of the project are very impressive to see and we are very proud of what has been achieved.”

Watch the video “Raising Thousands of Tons of Ship (OceanXplorer Floats For the First Time)”



Reference: damen.com

Source: Maritime Shipping News