ASP Ship Management Australia has recently been appointed managers for CSIRO Australia’s new marine research vessel RV Investigator, and will provide a full range of crew and technical management services .
The new vessel will replace the 40 year old RV Southern Surveyor.
The contract was signed at a formal ceremony at the CSIRO Marine National Facility premises in Hobart on May 17, with CSIRO Senior Executives, Toni Moate, Deputy Chief Science Operations, and Executive Director Future Research Vessel ( FRV) Project, Stephen McCullum Ship Manager Marine National Facility , and Mike Jackson Future Research Vessel Project Officer, together with ASP Group Managing Director David Borcoski and Group Chief Operating Officer Bob Bird
David Borcoski said ASP staff would immediately prepare the vessel, now nearing completion at the Sembawang shipyard in Singapore, for her delivery later in the year, followed by a substantial period of training and commissioning, prior to the vessel’s first research voyage in 2014.
“This is a very important contract for the ASP Group, and a satisfying recognition of our reputation for high standards of safety, technical training and quality service ” Mr Borcoski said.
The state-of-the-art RV Investigator of 93.9 metre length, will carry a crew of 19 and will have accommodation and facilities for 40 scientists and support staff conducting the most exacting marine scientific research. She will be able to undertake voyages of up to 60 days at sea, and have a range of up to 10,000 nautical miles .
The vessel will operate as a fully technically advanced research platform throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and as far south as the Antarctic, undergoing research in oceanography, climate, geological, fisheries, ecosystems and air-sea interactions.
Marine National Facility Director Ron Plaschke said he was excited about working with ASP Ship Management as they offered a comprehensive approach to managing the RV Investigator.
[mappress] Press Release, May 23, 2013; Image: CSIRO