Research Vessel Operating after Earthquake, Tsunami and Storm

On 12 February 2008, ASMAR Shipyard in Talcahuano, Chile, and Kongsberg Maritime signed a contract for the supply of equipment to the new Chilean research vessel, AGS 61 Cabo de Hornos. On 27 February 2010, the construction was hit by the 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile and resulting tsunami at 03:34 local time. That was the day of the scheduled inauguration. However, AGS 61 Cabo de Hornos has since been completed, despite supply of equipment encountering damage due to the storm Berit in the North Sea in November 2013. Thorough tests and trials have been conducted, and on 9 July 2014, AGS 61 Cabo de Hornos was inaugurated by Chile’s president, Michelle Bachelet, in a solemn ceremony.

Kongsberg Maritime supplied dynamic positioning, integrated bridge, fishery/fishery research equipment, HiPAP 500 positioning and a complete hydrographic package in addition to full system integration, spare parts and services.

The earthquake caused major damage in 2010, and large parts of ASMAR Shipyard disappeared into the sea. The vessel was flushed from the dock up to a beach by the tsunami. It took one year to rebuild the shipyard and to move the ship back to the dock. Most of the equipment we supplied was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami, delaying the project significantly.

Part of the equipment was to be shipped to Talcahuano in November 2013, but the vessel transporting the goods was hit by the storm Berit on 26 November 2013 in the North Sea, which caused major damage to the Kongsberg Maritime equipment, requiring a third shipment of the equipment.