Research vessels have aided and guided our insatiable desire to learn more about the oceans and its deepest mysteries for over several decades. In the years following their innovation, advancement in technological resources has helped revolutionize the constructional aspects of such research vessels.
Presently, there are many research vessels that are used and deployed to ascertain and accomplish various maritime and oceanographic objectives. Each vessel is a pioneer in itself, providing invaluable knowledge about the maritime domain. A detailed description of few twelve such noteworthy research vessels can be presented as follows:
1. Flip Ship: The Flip Ship gains its name because of its singular constructional aspect to be positioned perpendicular in the water while carrying out researching activities.
The research vessel has enjoyed tremendous success since it was put into operation in the year 1962, carrying out analyses pertaining to the global oceanology and the maritime ecosystem.
2. G. O Sars: The Norwegian researching vessel G. O Sars has contributed immensely to the global maritime researching avenues.
The vessel was put into operation in the 2003 and has carried out several important analytical activities in various important oceanic locations in the world. The research vessel is considered one of the most advanced research vessels in the world.
3. Oceanic Vega: In operation since 2010, the Oceanic Vega is owned by and operated by CGG Veritas and Eidesvik. The Vega functions as a seismic research ship and can be deployed at any location in the world.
The research has been equipped with state-of-the-art technological gadgetry to enable it to carry out its operations without any problems whatsoever.
4. BGP Prospector: Owned by the Chinese corporate BGP, the Prospector is a seismographic research ship.
The constructional elements of the vessel have enabled the research vessel to attain substantial recognition in the world along with its operational achievements.
5. Aurora Borealis: Although the Aurora Borealis is still in the preliminary stages of construction, the researching vessel is expected to be a pioneering concept.
Aurora Borealis will be put into operation as an icebreaker research ship in the Arctic and Antarctic to analyse the effects of global warming in these regions. It is supposed to be one of the finest research vessels when put into operation.
6. Oceanic Sirius: Sister vessel to the Oceanic Vega, Oceanic Sirius commenced its operations in the year 2011.
Sirius is also a seismic research ship and has been equipped with many advanced scientific instrumentations to help it achieve its operational objectives quite successfully.
7. SA Agulhas II: The Agulhas II is an ice-breaking research vessel owned and operated by the South African environmental department to carry out analytical operations in Antarctica.
Along with being a researching vessel, the Agulhas II can also be employed as a cruising ship carrying out cruise trips to one of the most exotic locations on earth.
8. RV Investigator: The Investigator will begin her researching operations in the year 2013. A governmentally owned and operated vessel, the Investigator will be equipped with some cutting-edge technological additions so as to enable better researching viability.
The overall constructional budget of the Investigator was over US$ 120 million.
9. RRS Discovery: The British research vessel Discovery will be put into operation in the autumn of 2013. The vessel is expected to be a path-breaking researching ship which can be employed at any oceanic location in the world.
The research vessel will be under the ownership of the NERC (National Environment Research Council).
10. Ellen Khuzwayo: Owned and operated by the South African government, the Ellen Khuzwayo has carried out extensive oceanic research since 2007.
The vessel is primarily used to analyse the South African oceanology and the overall aspects of the country’s oceanic resources.
11. RRS James Cook: The RRS (Royal Research Ship) James Cook has provided invaluable maritime researching assistance since it began its operations in 2007.
The research vessel’s construction makes it ideal to be deployed across various oceanic zones and as such the James Cook holds a unique pride of place in the NERC fleet of researching vessels.
12. R/V Sikuliaq: Under the ownership of US’ National Science Foundation, the Sikuliaq research vessel will be operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
The vessel is presently under construction and is expected to start its operations in the year 2014. The vessel will undertake researching activities pertaining to analyzing the Arctic marine ecosystem and the effects of global warming on the Arctic climatology.
These are some of the finest research vessels of the maritime world. Do you know any other important research vessel that is worth mentioning?
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