The Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) has commissioned this 71.4-metre oceanographic and fisheries research vessel from Freire shipyard to carry out marine research in a wide range of environments. These include Arctic waters, in compliance with the Polar Code, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea.
The vessel participates in European programmes such as Eurofleets and is fully equipped for comprehensive marine environmental monitoring. Its capabilities include water, sediment, and biological sampling; seabed and sub-seabed mapping to depths of 5,000 metres; and the operation of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), and seismic systems.
It features diesel-electric propulsion via a 690 V main switchboard and two 1,200 kW AC electric propulsion motors, enabling compliance with Silent R low underwater radiated noise notation requirements.
