Broad range for Fassmer hydrographic trio
Busy small ship and boat yard Fassmer in Berne/Motzen in north Germany is delivering a trio of specialist newbuildings for a range of hydrographic duties up to about autumn of this year.
The boats are a 43.85m long survey boat for German waterway and shipping (WSA) authorities in Wilhelmshaven, a 40m long survey vessel for international operator Fugro Helmert, and a 21m research ship for the Alfred Wegener Institute of Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven
The WSA Wilhelmshaven newbuilding will be the first of the three to be completed. Due to enter service in March and costing €11.5m, it will take over the duties of the buoy layer Schillig and hydrographic measurement boat Minseneroog, now both about 40 years old. It will also carry out water inspection and sampling, lay measurement equipment and act as a supply and transport ship.
The WSA said the ship will have a robust and flat steel hull, draw about 1.6m and be operational in both shallow waters and in rougher sea areas. Engine type was not reported but it will have a double Voith Schneider propeller, an additional transverse thruster, and also boast an 8.5 tonne crane.
Similar wide ranging capability will reportedly also be available on a sophisticated new hydrographic survey boat being built in Holland for the Cuxhaven WSA. That 16.4m long, 5.26m wide, purpose built vessel has been specially designed and is being custom built by Dutch builder No Limit Ships for delivery in April 2014.
No Limit Ships marketing manager Dick Westera told Maritime Journal the Type 1640 boat was being developed to draw just a metre for Elbe shallow water operations but still be suitable and stable in difficult sea conditions in the Outer Elbe. Mr. Westera reported it will be driven by two MAN D 2866 190kW continuous power engines to provide a speed of 11.5 knots.
The delivery of Fassmer’s newbuilding for Fugro takes place in the second quarter of this year. It will be the yard’s third hydrographic survey ship vessel for that globally operating owner in recent years. In 2010 and 2011, Fugro took delivery of two 62.5m geophysical and hydrographic research and survey ships from Fassmer, the multi-purpose Fulgro Searcher and the DP1 Fulgro Gaxaxy. The name of the new ship has not yet been revealed.
Fassmer’s new 21m research ship for the AWI is also unnamed as yet.
Small, as German research ships go, it will be almost identical in hull form and structure to the yard’s already popular series of buoy service vessels.
The GL classed newbuilding is also the fifth research ship of 21-65m length to be built at Fassmer and boasts a Green Passport. It will carry out German Bight hydrographic work in shallow waters and at sea.
By Tom Todd
