Lithuanian shipyard to build research vessel

NOVEMBER 27, 2012 — Lithuania’s Western Baltija Shipbuilding is to design and construct a new research vessel for Klaipeda University.

The 38.7 m long x 12.0 m beam vessel will have a hull depth of 4.5 m and a draft of 2.8 m.

The vessel will not only be used for scientific purposes. It will also carry out monitoring of the marine environment, research on fish resources, incidents of environment pollution, and carry out pollution monitoring on areas where buried chemical weapons exist.

The multifunctional vessel will carry out all main types of oceanographic research. It will have two stationary laboratories designed for geological, biological and physical-chemical research. There will be a possibility to build additional container type laboratories.

The vessel will have a crew of six and will carry a scientific staff up to 18 people.

Delivery is set for 2014.