Klaipeda University and “Western Baltija Shipbuilding” signed, Nov. 14th, an agreement on the design and construction of a new research vessel. The vessel will not only be used for scientific purposes.
It has been planned that the new research vessel will carry out monitoring of the marine environment, research on fish resources, incidents of environment pollution, and carry out pollution monitoring on areas where buried chemical weapons exist. This multifunctional vessel will carry out all main types of oceanographic research. Two stationary laboratories designed for geologic, biologic and physical-chemical research will be equipped on the vessel. There will be a possibility to build additional container type laboratories. The crew of the vessel will consist of 6 persons and the scientific staff will consist of up to 18 people. The vessel also will be used for practise by the students.
Dr. Saulius Gulbinskas, the assistant manager of the Klaipeda University Baltic Coastal Research and Planning Institute, emphasised that it is very important that the vessel will be built in Lithuania. “ It is a challenge for everyone. All new innovations will be applied on this vessel ”, said S. Gulbinskas.
The length of the vessel is 38.7 m, width – 12.0 m, hull depth – 4.5 m, draught – 2.8 m.
The design and building of the vessel is being funded from the “Development of the Marine Valley Nucleus and Renewal of Study infrastructure (JURA)” project, which is being implemented and funded under Priority 1 of the “Research and Development (R&D) for Competitiveness and Growth of the Economy” of the Operational Programme, “Economic Growth” for 2007–2013.
The scientific research vessel must be built no later than by the end of 2014. The price of this agreement is 33.5 million LTL.
The main functional possibilities of the research vessel will be:
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Press Release, November 23, 2012