Opportunities to jump on board the Irish Marine Institute’s multi-purpose research vessel, the 65.5 metre ‘Celtic Explorer’, using new interactive 360 virtual tour facilities have been introduced by the organisation.
Online tours include 360-degree panoramas and incorporate videos, photographs, deck plans and pop-up information. Open to all-comers, tours make our leading research vessel much more accessible, says the Institute’s CEO, Dr Peter Hefferman. “It provides an opportunity for the public to learn more about our world-class marine research infrastructure and the variety of research that can be carried out”, he adds.
Operating from its base in Galway, Celtic Explorer accommodates 35 personnel, including 22 scientists, and carries out both national and international studies ranging from hydrography, acoustic research and oceanography to fisheries acoustic research and deep water mooring. Virtual tours can be directly accessed via the Marine Institute’s website (www.marine.ie). The vessel’s position, along with that of its sister ship, Celtic Voyager, can also be tracked using an interactive map on the same website with onboard scientists providing blog updates on their activities.
By David Goodfellow
