Dutch ocean science institute christens newest vessel

The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research’s (Netherlands Institute for Sea Research; NIOZ) newest research vessel was formally named in a ceremony on Thursday, March 12.

Anna Weber-van Bosse was christened by Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who attended Thursday’s ceremony as guest of honour.

The vessel will be used to support research in a broad range of fields including biology, geology, physical oceanography, and even maritime archaeology. She can even be used for positioning of underwater data-gathering equipment.

Anna Weber-van Bosse was built by Spain’s Armon Shipyard to a design by Netherlands-based C-Job Naval Architects. She was designed as a larger and more capable platform to replace Pelagiaa research vessel that has been in service with the NIOZ for 35 years.

The vessel is fitted with a DP2 system while her hull has a wave-piercing bow and has been strengthened to ice class 1C standard, which indicates safe navigation even at the edges of ice fields.

The vessel boasts a selection of laboratories including wet and dry labs; a CTD hangar; a hangar for remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles; a large working deck that can also accommodate unmanned aerial vehicles; an A-frame; and a drop keel and gondola that can house larger sensors, including those that the NIOZ said are still under development.

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