Damen renovates French research vessel
The renowned French research vessel, ‘Marion Dufresne II’ has left Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque in northern France having recently undergone sea trials and a complete renovation.
Delivered on time, the oceanographic research vessel set sail for the Port of La Réunion where it will resume its logistic and scientific journey to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Khalil Benjelloul, at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque, said: “The excellent cooperation between the yard and the vessel’s crew was important in this project’s successful planning, coordination and execution. We rebuilt a large part of the vessel within four months to extend its life by 20 years. The client was satisfied with our performance, cooperation and the end result.”
Work included the replacement of the vessel’s most important scientific apparatus, the multi-beam sonar. The shipyard scrapped the existing equipment, rebuilt the hull and installed a new gondola and control room.
Furthermore the ILOT capstan, a system used to take sea water samples, was replaced and new equipment installed. The hull was also blasted and repainted as well as some of the ballast tanks.
The vessel’s accommodation areas have been redone in cooperation with the client’s subcontractor, to include laboratory facilities used by IPEV scientists.
The multi-purpose vessel owned by French administration “Les Terres australes et antarctiques françaises” (TAAF) and managed by CMA CGM, supplies French southern islands four months of the year and carries out oceanographic research 217 days per year under the responsibility of the Institut Polaire Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV).
By Anne-Marie Causer
Related Articles
MARINE CONSTRUCTION
POWER & PROPULSION
ENVIRONMENT