RV Celtic Explorer

RV Celtic Explorer off Lady's Holm, Shetland.
History
Ireland
Name	RV Celtic Explorer
Owner	Marine Institute
Operator	Marine Institute
In service	2003
Identification	Call sign: EIGB IMO number:  9244439 MMSI number: 250487000
Status	in active service, as of 2024 [update]
General characteristics
Class & type	fishing trawler
Tonnage	2,425  GT
Length	65.5 m (215 ft)
Beam	15 metres (49 ft)
Draught	5.8 metres (19 ft)
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Endurance	35 days

The Celtic Explorer is a multi-purpose research vessel operated by the Marine Institute in Galway, Ireland. ^[1] It came into service in 2003 for use in fisheries acoustics research, oceanographic, hydrographic and geological as well as buoy/deep water mooring and ROV Operations. The vessel is 65.5 metres (215 ft) long and has a capacity to accommodate 35 personnel of which 20-22 can be scientists. ^[2] The vessel's base is the Port of Galway which is located on the west coast of Ireland and offers ready access to the Atlantic Ocean.

In 2024, Celtic Explorer carried the Nereid Under Ice (NUI) remote-controlled submersible to study the glaciers of Greenland and their impact on sea level rise. ^[3]

Norrona And RV Celtic Explorer

Capabilities

• Acoustically silent (ICES 209), which minimises fish avoidance and provides an ideal environment for the collection of high quality acoustic data
• Dynamic positioning
• Retractable drop keel for acoustic transducers and other instrumentation
• EM302, EM2040 & EM1002 multi-beams (reaching depths of up to 5000m)
• Large dry and wet laboratories
• A full complement of survey equipment and winches suitable for coring, trawling and drop camera operations
• Adapted to accommodate a variety of Remotely Operated Vehicles including the Deepwater ROV Holland I
• Maximum endurance of 35 day

References

1. "Celtic Explorer | Marine Institute". www.marine.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
2. "RV CELTIC EXPLORER". Eurofleets - An alliance of European marine research infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the research and industrial communities. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
3. Carrington, Damian; Scruton, Paul; Swan, Lucy (2024-09-06). "'Oh my God, what is that?': how the maelstrom under Greenland's glaciers could slow future sea level rise". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077.