Spanish shipbuilder Gondan has signed a contract to build two new research vessels. The order was placed by the German government through the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Office (BSH).
The two new research vessels, named “Wega” and “Deneb,” will be designed by the Spanish ship design company Seaplace and will operate in the Baltic Sea.
The new vessels measure approximately 70 meters in length and 15 meters in beam, equipped with dynamic positioning systems and methanol dual-fuel propulsion systems.
Each vessel carries hydrographic survey equipment including unmanned underwater vehicles capable of performing tasks such as data collection and underwater obstacle detection. They comply with DNV’s “Silent-R” certification standards, ensuring low-noise operations for precise acoustic measurements.
It is worth noting that Gondan secured the shipbuilding contracts for the two new research vessels through a competitive bidding process that spanned three years.