Page 14: of Marine Technology Magazine (January 2014)

At the end of 2013, the team of Sembawang Shipyard of Singapore and Teekay Shipping Australia will de- liver the new scientiÞ c Research Vessel Investigator to its owners, the Commonwealth ScientiÞ c and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), an agency of the Federal Government of Australia. Investigator is designed to be among the most capable and quietest non-naval research vessels in the world. It will serve Australia in diverse scientiÞ c operations ranging over an area from the equator to the ice shelf of Antarctica and spanning almost one-third of the circumference of the globe.The Òdesign and buildÓ contract for construction of this ship was awarded to a team led by Teekay Shipping Australia and Sembawang Shipyard of Singapore. The design was de- veloped by RALion, a joint venture between Vancouver BC Naval Architects, Robert Allan Ltd, Alion Science and Tech- nology of Alexandria, Virginia and Alion Canada of Ottawa. The contract was awarded to this international team in Janu- ary 2011. An extensive program of model testing and design work was completed by November of that year. The vessel was launched on July 21, 2013 and then ofÞ cially named In- vestigator at a ceremony in Singapore on September 5, 2013. It was due to be completed and turned over to the owners at the end of 2013.Investigator has been designed to handle the heat and hu- midity of the tropics and the cold and ice of Antarctica while working safely and effectively in the broad expanse of the Great Southern Ocean separating these extremes. This ice capable vessel has also been designed to meet the underwater radiated noise requirements of the DNV ÒSilent RÓ notation up to 11 knots Ð a capability that enables her to undertake the most sensitive types of environmental research. Investigator is Þ tted out with a full range of scientiÞ c labo- ratories, science and Þ shing winches, coring equipment, air and water sampling devices, and acoustic systems. It is capable of general-purpose oceanographic survey opera- tions in coastal and deep ocean areas, including the physi-cal, chemical and biological oceanography, multi-discipline environmental investigations, ocean engineering and marine acoustics, coastal hydrographic survey, marine geology and geophysics, bathymetric surveys and Þ sheries research. In support of these missions, the ship is extensively equipped to perform all the following tasks: ¥ Acoustic habitat mapping In the Yard Ready for Launch is Australia?s Invetigator Main Particulars Length, o.a......................................................................................93.9 m Beam ..............................................................................................18.5 m Depth to Main Deck .........................................................................9.5 m Draft ..................................................................................................5.7 m Draft, Navigational ...........................................................................6.9 m Complement .......................................................60 (including scientists) Vessel Speed ...............................................................................15 knots Range.......................................................................................10,800 nm Endurance .....................................................................................60 days Largest Research Vessel Largest Research Vessel January/February 2014 14 MTRMTR #1 (1-17).indd 14MTR #1 (1-17).indd 141/24/2014 12:38:22 PM1/24/2014 12:38:22 PM