ASENAV to Build Hybrid Research Vessel for UC San Diego

Chilean shipbuilder ASENAV has signed a contract to build a 38-metre hybrid research vessel for the University of California San Diego, marking the country's first floating laboratory exported to the United States. The electrically propelled vessel will serve hundreds of scientists and students each year along the Eastern Pacific coast as part of the US Academic Research Fleet. Designed to replace the retiring Research Vessel Robert Gordon Sproul, the vessel is projected for delivery in July 2028 and will support missions for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

 

Details of the Contract

 

ASENAV has secured a landmark shipbuilding contract. The Chilean shipbuilder will build a hybrid vessel dedicated to ocean research. The vessel is destined for the University of California San Diego. This marks Chile's first floating laboratory exported to the United States. The achievement highlights the growing reach of Chilean naval engineering.

The project carries a defined scope and timeline. It has an estimated timeline of 24 months for completion. The scope covers design, construction, testing and trials through to delivery. Delivery of the vessel is projected for July 2028. This comprehensive scope reflects the complexity of a research vessel build.

 

Replacing an Ageing Vessel

 

The new vessel will succeed a long-serving research ship. It will replace the Research Vessel Robert Gordon Sproul. That vessel is the current coastal research ship being retired. It is being taken out of service after nearly four decades of operation. This makes the new vessel a generational replacement for the fleet.

The vessel will serve a significant scientific community. From its home port in San Diego, it will serve hundreds of scientists and students annually. This work will take place along the Eastern Pacific coast. The vessel will operate as part of the US Academic Research Fleet. It will specifically support missions for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

 

Vessel Design and Propulsion

 

The vessel is designed to a specific coastal research class. It will be designated a Coastal Class Research Vessel in the fleet. The monohull vessel has a length of 38 metres and a beam of 10.2 metres. Its draft measures 3 metres, suiting it to coastal operations. This configuration balances capability with the demands of coastal work.

The propulsion system supports precise operational control. The vessel uses dual azimuthing L-Drive stern thrusters and a bow thruster. This arrangement allows precise control over speed and position. The vessel can transit at 10 knots and survey at 8 knots. It can also tow at 2 knots and hold position using dynamic positioning.

 

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Operational Capacity

 

The vessel is built for demanding operational schedules. It can support up to 20 crew and scientists for missions lasting up to 11 days. It can also carry up to 40 students on one-day educational deployments. The vessel is designed to support up to 55 missions per year. This covers 200 days at sea, operating around the clock.

The vessel is intended as a versatile research platform. It is designed as a general-purpose research vessel. This supports scientific missions across multiple disciplines. These include biology, chemistry, geology and geophysics. Physical oceanography completes the range of supported research fields.

 

Scientific Capabilities

 

The vessel incorporates an extensive suite of scientific systems. Built-in acoustic systems will support seafloor mapping using multibeam and sub-bottom systems. Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers will map ocean currents beneath the ship. Midwater imaging sonars will image fish and other biomass in the water column. These systems support a broad range of oceanographic research.

The vessel also supports deep-water instrument deployment. Its dynamic positioning allows it to hold station for long periods. Winches, a crane and an A-Frame can lower instruments as deep as 4,000 metres. The vessel can also conduct remotely operated vehicle deployments to the seafloor. An Ultra-Short Baseline system enables it to deploy and track autonomous underwater vehicles.

 

Environmental and Technical Standards

 

The vessel emphasises environmental performance throughout its design. It features hybrid battery propulsion and low-emission certifications. These solutions are designed to reduce the environmental impact of operations. A key requirement is low underwater radiated noise at survey speeds. This is important to avoid interfering with scientific measurements and the marine environment.

The vessel must meet a range of mandatory standards. Integration into the fleet requires compliance with several technical requirements. These include American Bureau of Shipping classification requirements. United States Coast Guard regulations also apply to the vessel. Compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations completes these requirements.