Lithuania: Western Baltija Shipyard to Build Research Vessel

Klaipeda University and “Western Baltija Shipbuilding” signed an agreement on the design and construction of a new research vessel.

“Today is a historic day. A process, which started about four years ago, became a reality today. There are no higher level schools in Lithuania which have constructed a new ship. The University wishes to create a national centre of marine sciences and technologies. “I do not think it would be possible to achieve this goal without this vessel”, said V. Laurenas, rector professor of the Klaipeda University.

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.

After signing the agreement, Arnoldas Sileika, the General Manager of “Western Shipyard”, stated that not only Lithuania was waiting for this scientific research vessel. A. Šileika said that “Western Shipyard” is waiting for all students of the Faculty of Marine Engineering who will be given the possibility to observe the entire vessel building process: from its initial design to its conversion into a metal vessel.

The length of the vessel is 38.7 m, width – 12.0 m, hull depth – 4.5 m, draught – 2.8 m.

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.

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:

• Hydrological and hydrophysical research using RCM, CTD and ADSP systems;
• Bottom research using hydroacoustic methods: bottom relief research, research of sunken objects using methods of lateral location;
• Search of sunken objects with the help of gravimetric systems;
• Research of the geological composition of the bottom using low frequency acoustic and seismic methods;
• Research of the surface of the bottom and biotypes using submarine shooting ROV and ImageProfiler photography systems;
• Collection of biological objects through the application of various devices (nets, etc.);
• Possibilities for laboratory research: chemical – biological laboratory; geological laboratory; possibility to build an additional container type laboratory;
• Navigational control, observation of the position of devices, differential system of location determination, system of dynamic positioning;
• The vessel will be ready for installation of equipment for drilling the sea bottom.

[mappress]

Western Baltija Shipbuilding, November 23, 2012