Australia and Singapore collaborate on CSIRO research vessel
High Commissioner Philip Green at the naming ceremony with key stakeholders
Wednesday 11 September 2013
High Commissioner Philip Green was the guest-of-honour at the naming ceremony for the CSIRO's new research ship built in Singapore.
Named 'RV Investigator' after a national naming competition, the 93.9-metre ship is capable of spending 300 days a year at sea, supporting activities across a range of disciplines in oceanographic, climate, geological, fisheries and ecosystem research. Each voyage will be able to accommodate 40 scientists, and can go to sea for up to 60 days and cover 10 000 nautical miles.
In May 2009 the Australian Government allocated $120 million for a new ocean-going research vessel through the Future Research Vessel Project, with Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd in Singapore awarded the contract to build the vessel following a rigorous procurement process undertaken by the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).
Teekay Holdings Australia Pty Ltd was awarded the contract in January 2011 to design, build and commission the new vessel, which was designed by RALion (Robert Allan Ltd and Alion Science and Technology) from USA and Canada.
For more information on CSIRO's 'Future Research Vessel Project', please visit http://csirofrvblog.com/about/.