Research vessel

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A research vessel (R/V) is a ship primarily constructed to carry out scientific research at sea.

[edit] Role of research vessels

Research vessels carry out a number of roles at sea. Some of these can be combined into a single vessel, others require a dedicated vessel. Fisheries science requires platforms which are capable of towing a number of different types of fishing net, collecting plankton or water samples from a range of depths, and carrying acoustic fish-finding equipment. Fisheries research vessels are often designed and built along the same lines as a large fishing vessel, but with space given over to laboratories and equipment storage, as opposed to storage of the catch. An example of a fisheries research vessel is the FRV Scotia.

Hydrographic survey vessels are used to conduct hydrographic and seismic surveys of the seabed and the underlying geology. This information is useful for both producing navigational charts for shipping, and for detecting geological features which are likely to bear oil or gas. These vessels usually mount equipment on a towed structure, for example, air-cannons, used to generate a high pressure shock wave to sound the strata beneath the seabed, or mounted on the keel, for example, a depth sounder. An example of a hydrographic survey vessel is NOAAS Rude.

Oceanographic research vessels carry out research on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water, the atmosphere and climate, and as such, are required to carry equipment for collection of water samples from a range of depths, including the deep seas, as well as equipment for hydrographic sounding of the seabed, along with numerous other environmental sensors. An example of an oceanographic research vessel is the R/V Thomas G. Thompson. As the requirements of both oceanographic and hydrographic research are very different to those of fisheries research, these boats often fulfil a dual role.

Due to the demanding nature of the work these ships have to deal with, research vessels are often constructed around an icebreaker hull, allowing them to operate in polar waters.

[edit] List of some research vessels by country

[edit] Argentina

ARA Almirante Irízar, docked in Puerto de la Ciudad, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

ARA Almirante Irízar
ARA Puerto Deseado

[edit] Australia

RSV Aurora Australis
RV Southern Surveyor

[edit] Belgium

RV Belgica
RV Zeeleuw

[edit] Canada

CCGS W.E.Ricker

[edit] France

RV Côte d'Aquitaine
RV Côtes de la Manche
RV Gwen-Drez
RV L'Atalante
RV L'Europe
RV La Curieuse
RV Le Suroît
RV Marion Dufresne
RV Pourquoi Pas?

R.V. Pourquoi pas harboured in Brest, France.

RV Thalassa
RV Thalia
RV Thethys II

[edit] Germany

FRV Walther Herwig III
RV Meteor III
RV Maria S. Merian
RV Planet
RV Polarstern
RV Sonne
RV Poseidon
RV Alexander von Humboldt

[edit] India

INS Sagardhwani

[edit] Ireland

R.V. Celtic Explorer, a multi-purpose research vessel at sea in Galway Bay, Ireland.

RV Celtic Explorer
RV Celtic Voyager

[edit] Italy

RV OGS Explora

[edit] New Zealand

RV Tangaroa

[edit] Norway

RV G.M. Dannevig
RV Johan Hjort
RV Jan Mayen
RV Håkon Mosby
RV Fridtjof
RV Johan Ruud
RV G.O. Sars
RV Trygve Braarud
RV Bjørn Føyn

[edit] Pakistan

PNS Behr Paima

[edit] Poland

RV Oceania, research sailing vessel of Polish Academy of Science

ORP Arctowski
ORP Heweliusz
ORP Kopernik
RV Baltica
RV Doktor Lubecki
RV IMOR
RV Kaszubski Brzeg
RV (SY) Oceania
RV Oceanograf 1
RV Oceanograf 2
ORP Planeta (retired)
ORP Zodiak (retired)
RV Birkut (retired)
RV Hydromet (retired)
RV Pomorzanin (retired)
RV Profesor Bogucki (retired)
RV Profesor Siedlecki (retired)
RV Wieczno (retired)

[edit] Portugal

MV Capricornio
MV Noruega

[edit] Soviet Union/Russia

List of current operating research vessels of Russia as of 2006, a lot of them are operated since Soviet times^[1]:

RV Aisberg-II
RV Akademik Aleksandr Nesmeyanov
RV Akademik Aleksandr Sidorenko
RV Akademik Boris Petrov
RV Akademik Fyodorov
RV Akademik Ioffe
RV Akademik Korolyov
RV Akademik M.A.Lavrentjev
RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh
RV Akademik Nikolay Strakhov
RV Akademik Oparin
RV Akademik Sergey Vavilov
RV Akademik Shokalskiy
RV Akvanavt

RV Akademik Msislav Keldysh, moored in Bremerhaven.
RV Aleksei Chirikov
RV Amur
RV Andrei Vilkitzky
RV piso
RV Arktika
RV Artemida
RV Atlantida
RV Atlantniro
RV Atlas
RV Atmosfera
RV Bar
RV Boris Davidov
RV Briz
RV Buran
RV Dalniye Zelentsy
RV Dmitry Peskov
RV Faddey Bellinsgausen
RV Fritiof Nansen
RV Fyodor Litke
RV Gals
RV Gelendzhik
RV Geo Arctic
RV Geofizik
RV Geolog Dmitriy Nalivkin
RV Geolog Fersman
RV Gidrobiolog
RV Gidrolog
RV Gidrofizik
RV Gigrometr
RV Glubina
RV Groza
RV Impuls
RV Ivan Kruzenshtern
RV Ivan Petrov
RV Jakov Smirnitskiy
RV Kapitan Dranitzyn
RV Kol'skaja
RV Kompas
RV Leonid Morozov
RV Lugovoe
RV Mangazeya
RV Metan

Image:Prof Molchanov.jpg
Professor Molchanov, research vessel of Russian Hydrometeorological Service
RV Mikhail Verbitskiy
RV Miraz
RV Murmanskaja
RV Okean
RV Pamyat Merkuriya
RV Pavel Gordienko
RV Persey
RV Pomor
RV Priboy
RV Priliv
RV Professor Bogorov
RV Professor Gagarinskiy
RV Professor Kaganovskiy
RV Professor Khromov
RV Professor Kurentsov
RV Professor Logachev
RV Professor Molchanov
RV Professor Multanovskyi
RV Professor Shtokman
RV Professor Zubov
RV Rift

FRV Scotia
RV Roumb
RV Semyon Dezhnev
RV Shelf
RV Smolensk
RV Taimyr
RV Tantal
RV Tor
RV Vadim Popov
RV Valentin Shashin
RV Valerian Uryvayev
RV Viktor Buynitskiy
RV Vsevolod Timonov
RV Vulkanolog
RV Vyacheslav Frolov

FRV Clupea
RV Yantar
RV Yaroslavets
RV Yuzhmorgeologiya
RV Zapolyarjye
RV Zenit