Gondan Shipyard has celebrated the keel laying ceremony of the new Oceanographic Research Vessel for the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) of Bergen, Norway at its facilities in Figueras.

The official keel laying ceremony, marks the start of the assembly of the hull in the slipway. Several representatives from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), IMR (Institute of Marine Research) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) have attended as well as representatives of the Shipyard management.

The contract for this oceanographic vessel was signed in March last year. This ship was awarded to Gondan Shipyard through an international tender, in which it competed with eight Norwegian and a Spanish shipyard.

Designed by Skipsteknisk, the vessel will be 74.5 meters LOA and 17.4 beam. The vessel is intended for studying the bottom of the sea, hydrographic, marine biology, biomass analysis, and geology works, launching and recovery of buoys for data collection, ROV and AUV operations, as well as logistic and cargo handling operations, and student training.

According to Gondan Shipyard, the delivery is expected for September next year.