Keel Laid for Aarhus University’s New Research Vessel Aurora, Denmark

Keel Laid for Aarhus University’s New Research Vessel Aurora, Denmark

The keel has been laid, the course has been set and the Aurora is taking shape at the shipyard. The new ultra-modern research vessel will be ready to embark on expeditions by summer 2014.

Aurora is the Roman goddess of the dawn. She renews herself every morning. Her brother is the sun and her sister the moon. Four of her sons are the four winds – north, south, east and west.

Aarhus University’s new research vessel is being named after the Roman goddess. As of summer 2014, the Aurora will sail to all four corners of the world seeking the light – enlightenment.

“The keel has just been laid on the 28-metre-long vessel, and the construction is going according to plan,” says Torben Vang, who will be the skipper of the new research vessel.

It is the first newbuilding of a Danish research vessel since the Dana was built more than thirty years ago. The new vessel will provide better opportunities for studying and understanding marine ecosystems, and it will benefit all Danish marine researchers and numerous new students. It can set sail with fourteen people on board for up to ten days.

The builders are Hvide Sande Skibs- & Baadebyggeri, and the hull is being assembled in Szczecin, Poland. The hull will be transported to Hvide Sande in June to be fitted out and have a range of scientific equipment installed. The total price is DKK 40 million, of which the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation is providing DKK 30 million. The vessel will be delivered to Aarhus University on 17 February 2014.

“The Aurora will be a very flexible vessel, and we’ll be able to fit it out for lots of different assignments. She’ll really renew herself every morning,” says Torben Vang.

“There’s no doubt that Danish marine scientists will have significantly better opportunities once the Aurora sets course for unknown horizons from summer 2014,” he adds. Torben Vang is looking forward to welcoming researchers to floating research facilities that are much better, larger and completely modern.

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Press Release, March 05 , 2013