Kongsberg Maritime has signed a contract with Fassmer Werft (4th April 2017), to deliver an LNG-powered newbuild research vessel Atair II. The multi-million euro contract, approved by the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), will see the vessel constructed at the Fassmer yard in Berne.
Design is based on Kongsberg’s Integrated Research Vessel concept which unites operational hydrographic and energy functions on board, facilitating seamless information sharing, enhanced efficiency and long-term life cycle benefits.
Scheduled for delivery in 2020, Atair II replaces the original Atair research vessel, which has been operational since 1987. At 74 metres in length, approximately 17 meters wide and with 5 meters draught, the new vessel will be the largest ship in the BSH fleet. It offers space for 18 crew and 15 researchers. Atair II will be the world’s first government-owned LNG powered research vessel, and will have a maximum speed of approx. 13 knots.
As the first newbuild to use Kongsberg’s Integrated Vessel Concept for research vessels, Atair II will become one of the most sophisticated ships in the world. It meets the strictest standards for Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions according to International Maritime Organisation (IMO Tier III) requirements and US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA Tier IV) soot particle emissions regulations, in addition to conforming to ‘Blue Angel’ standards for eco-friendly ship design (RAL-UZ 141).
Atair II will operate in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, conducting hydrographic surveys and wreck search operations in addition to marine environmental monitoring, as well as the technical testing of navigation and radar equipment. It can operate in dual-fuel configuration on high quality diesel gas oil with a sulphur content below 0.1 per cent, while standalone LNG-powered operational duration is 10 days, thanks to its 130 m3 LNG tank.
As part of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, the BSH is the government maritime services partner for shipping, industry and the marine environment in Germany. BSH President Monika Breuch-Moritz emphasized: “As a German sea authority, which intensively promotes the sustainable use and protection of the seas, we are pioneers in the reduction of emissions in the shipping industry.”
(Source: Kongsberg Maritime)
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