NIOZ RESEARCH VESSELS

Royal NIOZ owns and operates several marine research facilities, not only to accommodate its own scientific programme but also for the oceanographic community in the Netherlands. As a consequence of its position as a national institute and in relation to its mission, NIOZ co-ordinates and takes care of the execution of sea-going research programmes funded by the Earth and Life Sciences Board of NWO in the framework of the national programme for sea-going research. Royal NIOZ also facilitates research cruises in the framework of EU-programmes, as well as cruises funded from other sources.   To accommodate work at sea NIOZ owns three research vessels. The annual cruise plans are made by Erica Koning. The daily management and logistics of the fleet are taken care of by our department Ship Management & Logistics (SML) with head Theo Buisman, assisted by Peter-Roy Alkema and Mildred Jourdan.

 

1. Research Vessel PELAGIA

The largest sea-going facility is R/V PELAGIA, a 66 m multipurpose research vessel developed for oceanographic research in coastal seas, on continental shelves and in the blue ocean. R/V Pelagia (built 1991) is specially designed as a multipurpose research vessel. It is a very stable platform and has most favourable nautical properties. She has a long experience in CTD-deployment, biological sampling methods, seismic surveys, deep tow sonars, coring (box-, multi-, piston-, gravity-, vibro-, CPT-) activities as well as in deployment and recoverage of deep-sea moorings and bottom landers. RV Pelagia can accommodate 9 laboratory containers, 5 in the big hold and 4 on the aft deck, which makes her tremendously flexible. Since 2002 R/V PELAGIA is certified under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.   Research Vessel PELAGIA takes part in the international Ocean Facilities Exchange Group (OFEG) for the exhange of shiptime on a bartering basis. The yearly cruise planning procedure is co-ordinated with the international partners within the OFEG.   On a World wide scale, Royal NIOZ is an active member of the International research Ship Operators Meeting (ISOM), an informal platform of operators of research fleets who since 1986 meet annually to discuss issues of mutual interest and exchange knowledge and experience at a strategic and technical level.   RV PELAGIA is also available for charter. Suitable requests will be taken up into the planning procedure. More information can be obtained from Erica Koning.

2. Research Vessel NAVICULA

The 24 m research vessel NAVICULA is specially designed for work in the shallow Wadden Sea. The ship has a very shallow draft which makes her ideal for work on and between the tidal flats. Next to her work as a research ship, she also is available for university courses to make students in marine science acquainted with work at sea. RV NAVICULA is available for hire. More information can be obtained from Erica Koning.

3. Research Vessel STERN

This small day boat is used for transport of researchers to and from their research areas in the shallow Wadden Sea. _______________