Irish Ships and Shipping
Irish Marine Institute Research vessels
the national platform for offshore Marine Research
The RV Celtic Explorer
She is 65.5m in length and accommodates 31 personnel, including 16-18 scientists. The Celtic Explorer is, in gross terms, six times the size of her sister vessel, the Celtic Voyager.
Ireland's unique strategic position on the edge of the Atlantic means that the Celtic Explorer is able to facilitate both national and international research and exploration. The vessel is based in Galway, which is ideally located as the gateway to the Atlantic and geographically close to the main working areas. Until recently, most research carried out in Irish territorial waters was by foreign research vessels.
Photos from Ted Sweeney
More information from the Marine Institute
http://www.marine.ie/home/services/researchvessels/
RV Celtic Voyager
The Celtic Voyager is a 31.4m multi-purpose research vessel. She has wet, dry and chemical laboratories, which are permanently fitted with standard scientific equipment. She can accommodate 6 - 8 scientists and has a maximum range of 17 days. She is manned by a very experienced crew. They are highly skilled with the handling and deployment of scientific equipment.
The Celtic Voyager facilitates the collection of fisheries, geophysical, oceanographic and environmental data and provides practical training for the next generation of marine scientists. This research is of crucial national importance, to ensure the development of Ireland's vast natural resource in a sustainable manner
Length o.a. | 31.4 m |
Beam | 8.5 m |
Draught | 3.8 m |
Gross tonnage | 340 T |
Type | Steel hull, multi-chined construction, single screw |
Speed | ≤10 knots |
Lloyds classification | 100A1 Research Vessel, LMC |
Accommodation | 15: 8 scientists, 7 crew. Scientists quarters: 4 two-man berths. |
Endurance | 14 days |
More information from the Marine Institute
http://www.marine.ie/home/services/researchvessels/
RV Lough Beltra 1976
The "Lough Beltra" was launched from Hakvoort Shipyard,
Holland in 1973. She is a seventy foot steel
stern trawler and was used as such by Howth Fisheries Limited until 1976 when
she was acquired by the
National Science Council.
The National Science Council was established in 1967 to advise the Government on
science and
technology, with particular reference to economic development. The "Lough
Beltra" was taken over by
the Council on 1st June, 1976 and Irish Shipping have attended to the
operational needs of the vessel
since then with regard to manning and services. The vessel is propelled by a 425
H.P. marine caterpillar
engine and has a service speed of 10 knots. She is fully controlled from the
bridge and has the most up-to-
date navigational equipment including a Decca Auto Pilot, Track Plotter,
Navigator and Radar.
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There is accommodation for eight people on board including a crew of three the
Master, Engineer and Cook. In
addition there are five scientists and in the vessels operations so far these
experts have come from the
Geological Survey of Ireland, the Department of Oceanography, U.C.G., Department
of Microbiology,
Department of Zoology and the Fisheries Division. The Geological Survey of
Ireland were working on
the East Coast and on the proposed Kinsale pipeline using an overboard side
scanner so that they could
examine the sea bed to a depth of three feet. The Department of Zoology were
involved in deepwater benthic dredging while the Oceanography Department were
interested in taking water and plankton samples.
The Fisheries Division were taking core samples and after
these have been dried they help to determine
the mercury and iron content. In addition to this type of scientific research it
is also expected that charts of
the different sea areas and information will be compiled on the history and
movement of marine life around our coasts.
This work will undoubtedly take a considerable length of time and the present
research being undertaken
aboard the "Lough Beltra" is a very important first step in providing
information which is vital to the
future development of our marine resources.