Research vessel

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"R/V" redirects here. For recreational vehicles, see Recreational vehicle. For other uses, see RV (disambiguation).
Examples of remote sensing equipment deployed by
or interfacing with oceanographic research vessels.[1]

A research vessel (RV or R/V) is a ship or boat designed, modified, or equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel but others require a dedicated vessel. Due to the demanding nature of the work, research vessels may be constructed around an icebreaker hull, allowing them to operate in polar waters.

History

Endeavour replica
in 2000
Main article: History of research ships

The research ship had origins in the early voyages of exploration.

Endeavour, the essentials of what today we would call a research ship are clearly apparent. In 1766, the Royal Society hired Cook to travel to the Pacific Ocean to observe and record the transit of Venus across the Sun.[3] The Endeavour was a sturdy vessel, well designed and equipped for the ordeals she would face, and fitted out with facilities for her "research personnel", Joseph Banks. As is common with contemporary research vessels, Endeavour also carried out more than one kind of research, including comprehensive hydrographic survey
work.

Some other notable early research vessels were HMS Beagle, RV Calypso, HMS Challenger, USFC Albatross, and the Endurance and Terra Nova.

The names of early research vessels have been used to name later research vessels, as well as Space Shuttles.

Modern types

Modern types
Planet

Hydrographic survey

A hydrographic survey ship is a vessel designed to conduct

shipping
.

Hydrographic survey vessels also conduct

depth sounder
.

In practice, hydrographic survey vessels are often equipped to perform multiple roles. Some function also as oceanographic research ships. Naval hydrographic survey vessels often do naval research, for example, on submarine detection.

An example of a hydrographic survey vessel is CCGS Frederick G. Creed. For an example of the employment of a survey ship see HMS Hydra.

Oceanographic research

hydrographic sounding of the seabed, along with numerous other environmental sensors. These vessels often also carry scientific divers[4] and unmanned underwater vehicles. Since the requirements of both oceanographic and hydrographic research are very different from those of fisheries research, these boats often fulfill dual roles. Recent oceanographic research campaigns include GEOTRACES and NAAMES
.

Examples of an oceanographic research vessel include the

Cabo de Hornos.[5]

Fisheries research

A fisheries research vessel requires platforms capable of towing different types of fishing nets, collecting plankton or water samples from a range of depths, and carrying acoustic fish-finding equipment. Fisheries research vessels are often designed and built along the same lines as a large fishing vessel, but with space given over to laboratories and equipment storage, as opposed to storage of the catch. An example of a fisheries research vessel is FRV Scotia.

Naval research

Naval research vessels investigate naval concerns, such as submarine and mine detection or sonar and weapons trials. An example of a naval research vessel is the

Planet of the German Navy
.

Polar research

USCGC Polar Star, RSV Aurora Australis[6] and RSV Nuyina.[7]

Oil exploration

Oil exploration is performed in a number of ways, one of the most common being mobile drilling platforms or ships that are moved from area to area as needed to drill into the seabed to find out what deposits lie beneath it.

See also

References

  1. ^ Just Sit Right Back and You'll Hear a Tale, a Tale of a Plankton Trip NASA Earth Expeditions, 15 August 2018.
  2. S2CID 254550486
    .
  3. ^ Beazley, Charles Raymond (1911). "Cook, James" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 71.
  4. ^ Griffin, J.J. (ed) 1991. The Final Report of the Workshop on Scientific Shipboard Diving Safety to the National Science Foundation, University National Oceanographic Laboratory System, Graduate School of Oceanography Technical Report Number 90-04, Narragansett, RI, USA.
  5. ^ "R/V Cabo de Hornos, Chile". ship-technology.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  6. ^ RSV Aurora Australis 1989–2020 Australian Antarctic Division, 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  7. ^ About Australia's new icebreaker — RSV Nuyina Australian Antarctic Division, 29 September 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Research ships.
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