Launch of Dutch research fleet’s flagship marks construction milestone
The new flagship of the Dutch research fleet, the RV Anna Weber-van Bosse, has been launched in Spain. Within a year, it will be ready to embark on scientific missions. Gert-Jan Reichart, who is overseeing the scientific aspect of the project, urges Dutch marine researchers to start planning their future studies aboard the Anna Weber.
The launch marks a significant milestone, with construction now about halfway complete. Over the past year, the nearly 80-metre-long hull has taken shape at the Armon Shipyards in Vigo, Spain, towering roughly eight stories high. However, the ship’s full height will exceed this. Due to its size, the assembly hall was unable to accommodate the entire vessel, so elements such as the bridge will be constructed outside in the coming months. Soon after, the focus will shift to equipping the ship with state-of-the-art laboratories and technical systems, ushering in an exciting phase for scientists.
The Anna Weber boasts advanced capabilities that surpass those of the Pelagia, which has served as the Netherlands’ ocean-going research vessel for the past three decades. Reichart highlighted: “This new ship will allow us to conduct expeditions to areas where we previously relied on foreign vessels. It will be equipped with technology we’ve never had before, such as a series of sensors housed in a gondola and a drop keel that extends metres below the ship. Additionally, there will be an underwater robot capable of reaching the ocean floor.” The vessel is also classified as light ice class, enabling it to operate in sea ice margins – a capability previously unavailable.
Fostering deeper participation
With increased size comes greater capacity; the Anna Weber can accommodate 25 scientists, doubling the current number. This expansion allows for simultaneous projects, larger experiments and even the inclusion of journalists. Other enhancements include a unique educational feature: a classroom at sea. Reichart explained: “This room will have a direct online connection, enabling lecturers to teach from the sea. Students will gain a more immersive experience, working with collected data and engaging in experiments in real time. This approach brings the expedition directly to them, fostering deeper participation.”
Reichart encourages scientists to start preparing their research proposals and submitting them to NWO via the designated website. “A year will fly by, so it’s crucial to begin planning now. The Anna Weber can support both small and large-scale projects, and running multiple studies concurrently will become feasible.” He also expressed a personal aspiration to lead an expedition to Indonesia, inspired by the ship’s namesake, scientist Anna Weber-van Bosse. “Indonesia is a fascinating region from an oceanographic standpoint, bridging the Pacific and Indian Oceans. We already see strong international interest in collaborating, including from Indonesian researchers.”
Earlier this year, Hydro International published an article on the renewal of the Dutch research vessel fleet, in which the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), a key player in this initiative, shared valuable insights into its decision-making processes and experiences. Read the full article here.
