RV Tom Crean

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RV Tom Crean in Cork on 1 December 2022
History
Ireland
NameTom Crean
NamesakeTom Crean[3]
OwnerMarine Institute
OperatorMarine Institute
BuilderAstilleros Armon Vigo
Cost€25 million[4]
Laid downNovember 2020[2]
LaunchedNovember 2021
Christened6 October 2022
Acquired8 July 2022
Maiden voyage15 July 2022
In service6 October 2022
Identification
StatusActive as of 2022
General characteristics
TypeMulti-purpose research vessel
Length52.8 m (173 ft 3 in)
Beam14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draught5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Installed power2 × 1,350 kW Mitsubishi SR16 diesel generators, 1 × 400 kW generator[7]
Propulsion1 × 2,000 kW Indar electric main propulsion motor with 7 blade silent propeller, 780 kW Schottel omnidirectional pump jet bow thruster, 400 kW Schottel stern tunnel thruster[5]
Speed13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)[6]
Range8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi)
Endurance21 days
Complement26 (12 crew, 14 researchers)

RV Tom Crean is a multi-purpose research vessel operated by the Marine Institute of Galway, Ireland. It entered service in 2022 for use in fisheries research, oceanographic, hydrographic and geological research as well as deploying and maintaining weather buoys, observational infrastructure and remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).[8] According to its owners it is the "worlds quietest research vessel",[9] being the first vessel to exceed the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) noise standard for fisheries research.[9][10] Named after Irish Antarctic explorer Tom Crean, the vessel is 52.8 metres (173 ft 3 in) long and can accommodate 12 crew members and 14 researchers. It is able to go to sea for at least 21 days at a time, and is designed to operate in harsh sea conditions. The vessel was commissioned to replace the RV Celtic Voyager.[11]

Design[edit]

The contract for the ship design was awarded to Norwegian ship design consultants Skipsteknisk AS[12] with the design designated as ST-366 after a European Union tender process.[6][13] The Tom Crean was designed as a silent research vessel: In order to minimise fish avoidance and collect high-quality acoustic data, its design and operation meet the criteria of the ICES 209 noise standard for fisheries research.[14] These noise mitigation measures include a silent 7-bladed propeller[12] and sound insulation for internal equipment. When at port, the vessel's onboard generators can be shut down and it can draw power from onshore facilities to reduce fuel consumption.[15][16]

It is equipped with a dynamic positioning (DP1) and anti-roll system for operations in heavy seas. For oceanographic research, a heave-compensated conductivity temperature and depth (CTD) system is fitted, with 4,500 m (14,800 ft) of wire. A CTD hangar, CTD laboratory and controlled temperature chemical laboratory are also fitted.[16] An 8-ton starboard side T-frame allows deploying drop cameras, grabs samplers and corers to a depth of 4,000 m (13,000 ft). A stern mounted 10-ton A-frame can articulate through 170 degrees can be used for deploying and recovering equipment such as ROVs and towed sleds, and for research fishing operations.[17] The Marine Institute's Deepwater Holland I Work-class ROV and the University of Limerick (UL)'s Etain sub-Atlantic ROV[18] can be positioned on the aft deck.[16] The vessel can carry up to three TEU containers.

Construction[edit]

The vessel was constructed by Astilleros Armon Vigo at Armon Shipyard b.129, Spain.[19]

Service history[edit]

After construction, the vessel completed sea trials in May 2022 and was officially commissioned on 8 July 2022. In its first year of service, the vessel completed 296 survey days across 20 surveys, involving 180 scientists and travelling more than 32,000 nautical miles.[20]

One of the missions the Tom Crean is tasked with is performing INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resources) surveys for Geological Survey Ireland. During its first year of service, five INFOMAR surveys were carried out, mapping an area of 6,317 square kilometres (2,439 sq mi). Later INFOMAR surveys located two previously undiscovered suspected shipwrecks, and mapped hundreds of shipwrecks in total.[21] The second phase of INFOMAR surveys is planned to run until 2026, and expected to see the Tom Crean mapping the Celtic Sea off the Cork coast and the Atlantic Ocean off the west of counties Kerry, Clare and Galway.[22] It has also collected data from locations such as the Porcupine Bank, approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) west of Kerry; Aran Grounds; the Celtic Sea; and the Bay of Biscay.[20][23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "New Ordered Vessels". Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Tom Crean Timeline". Marine Institute. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. ^ "RV Tom Crean: New research vessel begins service in Kerry". rte.ie. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Minister McConalogue commissions Ireland's new marine research vessel the 'RV Tom Crean' in Dingle Harbour". gov.ie. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. ^ "RV Tom Crean" (pdf). Marine Institute. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Tom Crean" (PDF). Skipsteknisk. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Kinsale Area Decommissioning Project-PL-01/SH Petroleum Lease: Application to Conduct End of Operations Seabed Survey" (PDF). Kinsale Energy. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Ireland's New Research Vessel to Be Named Tom Crean". marinelink.com. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Press Releases: World's quietest research vessel arrives in Galway". Marine Institute. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Tom Crean". Marine Institute. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Ireland's New Research Vessel RV Tom Crean Commissioned Today in Dingle". Marine Institute. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  12. ^ a b "New Hull of Irish Marine Research Vessel 'Tom Crean' is Completed in Spain". afloat.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  13. ^ "New Research Vessel for Marine Institute to be Named RV Tom Crean - Afloat Reveals". afloat.ie. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  14. ^ "RV Tom Crean". infomar.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  15. ^ "RV Tom Crean" (PDF). Marine Institute. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  16. ^ a b c "Research Vessel (RV) Tom Crean, Ireland". ship-technology.com. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Functions of the RV Tom Crean from the Science Labs to A 'Drop' Keel". afloat.ie. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Marine Institute Research Vessel Tom Crean". afloat.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  19. ^ "ST-366 Tom Crean". skipsteknisk.no. Skipsteknisk. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Boat named after Kerry's Tom Crean completes 300 days' surveying in first year". The Kerryman. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  21. ^ Raollaigh, Joe Mag (29 September 2023). "Suspected shipwrecks discovered off west coast". rte.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  22. ^ "INFOMAR Notice of Operations, 2023" (PDF). infomar.ie. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  23. ^ "Underwater Television Survey Marine Mammal Observer Report RV Tom Crean 13 – 23 August 2022". marine.ie. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
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