Odon de Buen oceanographic institute begins a new phase in its commissioning
The ship is equipped with the most advanced oceanographic research and exploration technology
Odon de Buen, the largest oceanographic ship in the Spanish fleet, was formally delivered this Monday to the Higher Council for Scientific Research, a Ministry of Science dependent organisation, Innovation and Universities, by Astilleros Armón, responsible for its construction. The delivery took place in Cádiz, the city where the ship will have its home port and where it arrived after a journey from the shipyard of origin, in Vigo.
The delivery of this ship, equipped with the most advanced oceanographic research and exploration technology, marks the beginning of a new phase in which a series of tests and adjustments will be carried out to ensure its full operation and thus be able to progressively achieve the full operational capacity of its capabilities, as well as to allow the crew to become familiar with its latest generation equipment.
Over the next few months, the technical staff on board Odón de Buen will be dedicated to fine-tuning the various systems and equipment on the ship, from the scientific laboratories to the autonomous underwater vehicles. In addition, the crew will receive intensive training to operate safely and efficiently in the various types of scientific missions that can be carried out on the ship.
Odón de Buen, named in honour of the oceanography pioneer in Spain and founder of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) - the entity promoting the project - represents a strategic investment in marine research. “With a length of 84.3 metres and equipped with the latest technology, Odón de Buen is capable of operating in any ocean in the world and deploying its equipment over 6,000 metres deep,” explained María del Carmen García, director of the IEO-CSIC who signed the ship's reception this morning.
The project has had an investment of 85 million euros, with 80% of the total contributed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
“This multipurpose vessel is designed to carry out a wide range of scientific research, from the marine biodiversity study to the climate change monitoring,” as stressed by the president of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino.
The CSIC Marine Technology Unit (UTM) director, Jordi Sorribas, has assured Odón de Buen “stands out among the research vessels in its segment for its complete equipment and for being one of the quietest built to date.” “Most of its systems and equipment are manufactured or distributed nationally, which undoubtedly reflects the capacity of our industrial fabric,” added Sorribas.
The construction of Odón de Buen began on the 23rd of May 2022 at an event chaired by the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, accompanied by the president of the CSIC, Eloísa del Pino, which manufacture officially started, with the first cut of the ship's sheet metal.
(Source: Ruta Pesquera)