Kongsberg Maritime will build the world’s first government-owned LNG-powered research vessel for Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

A contract for construction of Atair II, signed in April and announced in May, will provide BSH with the largest vessel in its fleet at 74 m (243 ft) in length, about 17 m (56 ft) wide and 5 m (16 ft) draught. The ship will have space for 18 crew members and 15 researchers, and it will be able to reach a top speed of about 13 knots. It will be built at the Fassmer yard in Berne.

Atair II will be one of the most sophisticated ships in the world when it is delivered in 2020, Kongsberg said in a statement.

Among its features:

  • DNV-GL SILENT class notation—SILENT R, ensuring minimal impact on the marine environment;
  • Adherence to the strictest standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions according to IMO Tier III requirements and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency soot particle emissions regulations; and
  • Meeting “Blue Angel” standards for ecofriendly ship design (RAL-UZ 141).

The ship will operate in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, and it can operate in dual-fuel configuration on high-quality diesel gas oil with a sulfur content below 0.1%, while standalone LNG-powered operational duration is 10 days, thanks to its 130-cu. m tank.

Uwe Frenz, managing director of Kongsberg Maritime GmbH Germany, said, “Kongsberg Integrated Vessel Concepts are a brand new approach to vessel design and building that leverages the power of integration between disparate systems to produce gains in operational efficiency and reduced life-cycle costs across the board.”

—Joseph Markman

Offshore