RV Atair: A (new) Star is Born

摘要

The new research vessel received its name on the occasion of its traditional naming ceremony at the end of September: Named after the star Altair in the constellation Adler, the new ship was christened Atair by the godmother Dr. Elke Ferlemann, who succeeded with the first throw of the obligatory bottle of champagne. Atair, which entered service in 1987, is replaced by a state-of-the-art vessel that meets the highest environmental standards. The new Atair is the world's first seagoing public authority vessel for special tasks with a partially environmentally friendly natural gas propulsion system. It is also built to be particularly quiet. The newbuilding was built at the Fassmer shipyard in Berne/Lower Saxony and will go into service in 2020. The new research vessel measures 75 x 17m, able to carry a crew of 18 plus 15 scientists. The vessel reaches a speed of around 13 knots, all the while remaining stable, calm and maneuverable.