Page 36: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2006)

36 MTR May 2006

Elliott Bay Design Group designed the modifications for the R/V Bank of Bermuda Atlantic Explorer; a 168-ft. research ship recently christened by the Bermuda

Biological Station for Research (BBSR).

Purchased as the R/V Seward Johnson from the Harbor

Branch Oceanographic Institute by the non-profit BBSR, the vessel will be used in oceanographic research primari- ly off the coast of Bermuda; throughout the Atlantic

Ocean and into the Caribbean.

EBDG provided engineering guidance during the exten- sive modification. Work included the relocation and refit of the existing pilothouse to serve as a new aft-facing sci- entific operations center; as well as the design, construc- tion and installation of a new wheelhouse atop the scien- tific operations center. The mast was relocated; a SOLAS rescue boat installed; and the main deck bulkheads relo- cated to provide a new CTD garage. In addition, EBDG has completed arrangements and structural design to sup- port future plans to extend the central stair arrangements from the main deck to the hold deck and to provide a completely new winch deck serving the aft and side A- frames. Modifications were completed at Lyon Shipyard in Norfolk, Va. The R/V Atlantic Explorer replaces the 115-ft. Weatherbird II, and has a beam of 38 ft. and a depth of 14.25 ft. It draws just under 12 ft. at full load.

The modified vessel offers expanded deck space to carry up to four, 20-ft. scientific vans and/or work boats simul- taneously. It will allow for the launching of larger scien- tific mooring buoys and instruments, provide more room for multi-investigator equipment and offer larger wet and dry laboratory space as well as greater stability for carry- ing more delicate instruments. "This new vessel will expand BBSR's capabilities, bring- ing benefit to the scientific community," said Roy

Newyman, EBDG's project manager. "All of us at EBDG are proud to be a part of such an important project."

EBDG Supports New Research Vessel

IXSEA Opens in China

IXSEA announced the opening of a

Chinese office, IXSEA PTE. Ltd..

Lucy Xi will head the sales division in

China. The new office will be located at: Suite 2039, 20th Floor, Qing Yun

Modern Plaza, 43 Bei San Huan Xi

Lu, Haidian District, Beijing 100086, China.

Wind Energy Cabling

Contract Awarded

Oceanteam Power & Umbilical BV won a contract by the Joint Venture for the installation of subsea cables for the shore connections and the inter array cables, including shore landings and j-tube pulls on the wind turbine foundations. The Windfarm is located 8 km west of Egmond aan

Zee in Dutch territorial waters.

The contract includes the collection and transport of all cables from

Naples to IJmuiden, installation of 3 x 15 km shore connection cables, installation of 34 inter array cables between the wind turbine generators and one met mast. The project man-

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