The Armón Vigo shipyard has delivered to the Mexico’s National Fisheries Institute (INAPESCA) a fishing and oceanographic research ship.
The vessel was commissioned to explore the waters of Mexico’s Pacific coast, and according to an official press release from the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA in its Spanish acronym), “hopefully its work will make it possible to start fishing new species of commercial interest that live at depths of up to 2,000 m in the exclusive economic zone.”
Based in the Port of Mazatlán in the state of Sinaloa, the ship will operate in its first phase in the northern Pacific coast where there are signs of the presence of black cod, crabs, shrimp and deep sea squid.
SENER supervised the engineering project for the ship, carried out its building inspection and provided INAPESCA with technical assistance for all matters related to the project and the construction of the ship.
Among the main characteristics of the oceanographic vessel – which will have to spend extended periods on the high seas – are the 59 m length and its capacity to carry up to 20 scientific researchers and staff, in addition to the crew.
The ship has seven geological/hydro-acoustic laboratories for biological/fishing research and a meteorology station, together with holds with freezer tunnels for storing and preserving species.
It is equipped with the latest technology for locating and evaluating fishing resources in depths greater than 1,000 m. It can reach a speed of 13 knots and can remain at sea autonomously for 40 days. Furthermore, the vessel has dynamic positioning system.
[mappress] Press Release, May 8, 2014; Image: SENER