l'Atalante, Endeavor and research

The French research vessel l'Atalante arrived in Halifax this afternoon, April 22 and tied up at the Bedford Institute. It is on a month long mission from its base in Brest, France.

 

An impresssive ship of 3559 gt, it was built originally in 1989 by Atelier et Chantier du Havre but was extensively refitted in 2009 and in 2021. It is a multi-purpose oceanography, biology and marine geosciences research ship. Its numerous capabilities include the operation of a crewed submersible to -6,000 meters and a remotely operated vessel. It has eight labs on board and can also carry containerised mission-specific labs on deck.

It is equipped with a 22 tonne capacity stern A-frame, a 10 tonne deck crane and a 4 tonne traveling crane and a 800mm diameter well or moon pool. It is diesel electric powered with twin screws.

The ship is owned by the Flotte Océanographique Française par IFREMER. (Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer). Its actual operation is conducted by SHOM which is the Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (the French Navy). Depending on the mission the ship carries a crew of 17 to 30 and can accommodate 30 technicians and scientists.

The ship was last in Halifax in June 2023, which apparently escaped the notice of Shipfax. It had assisted in the location and recovery efforts related to the Oceangate Titan submersible loss at the Titanic wreck site, using its ROV Victor 6000.

The ship's arrival in Halifax follows on the departure of the US flagged Endeavor on April 21 after carrying out some reseach for Canada.

 The Endeavor first arrived in Halifax March 26, sailed on March 19 and returned April 18 (photo). The long awaited replacement for the deep sea research ship CCGS Hudson has not yet been completed, which means that the Bedford Institue has chartered in ships to carry out some of its research work - particularly annual fish stock surveys that are conducted jointly with the United States.

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Endeavor Returns

The research vessel Endeavor made a return visit today, March 26, presumably for the same reason that it was here seven and eight years ago.

Not Captain James Cooks's ship Endeavour (note the difference in spelling), this one flies the flag of the United States of America and is based in Narragansett, Rhode Island. It is owned by the United States Science Foundation and operated by Rhode Island University.

In 2017 and 2018 it was chartered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to conduct the bi-national Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program annual survey. Canada's oceanographic research ship CCGS Hudson was in one of its prolonged life extension refits and was not available for the work. (Hudson has since been retired ansd scrapped and its replacement, orginally to be delivered in 2017, may now be delivered in 2026.) The Bedford Institute of Oceanography has chartered in replacement ships to meet some of its obligations, but its science programs have been severely hampered.

The Endeavor was built by Peterson Builders in Sturgeon Bay, WI in 1976. In 1993 it was lengthened from 177 ft to 185 ft ( 53.9m to 56.39m) and is now approximately 298 gross tons. It operates with a crew of 12 and can accommodate 18 scientists.

Canada's new oceanographic ship, when it is finally in service, will accomodate 26 scientists and will requiure a crew of 34. Its initial price tag of $109 mn has risen to $1.28 bn (as of now).

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Endeavor returns

The (United States) National Science Foundation research vessel Endeavor returned to Halifax this afternoon after completing the first 23 day scientific charter from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the Bedford Institute.

Built by Peterson Builders in Sturgeon Bay, WI in 1976, the 784 long ton displacement, 298 grt vessel is operated by the Graduate School of Oceanography of the University of Rhode Island and is based in Narragansett, RI. It had a major mid-life refit in 1993, during which the hull was lengthened from 177 ft to 185 ft loa and modified. Its single GM EMD delivers 3,050 shp to a controllable pitch prop in a steering nozzle. 

  According to figures published by the CBC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (aka DFO) hired the vessel at a cost of $1,041,044 for work that CCGS Hudson was slated to do. Because Hudson's $4mn refit was still incomplete in November, the ship was yanked from the Heddle Marine in Hamilton, ON and returned to Halifax. DFO has said that the work will be finished alongside BIO by April 2018.

However the University of Rhode Island's web site reports that Endeavor has been hired again for continuation of the work for 23 days in April / May 2018 for an additional $(US)649,632. The Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program on the Scotian Slope and Gulf of Maine is a continuing process and requires fall and spring surveys.Perhaps DFO scientists do not believe their own department's press releases.

Meanwhile at the old Coast Guard base in Dartmouth Coriolis II is in winter layup after also chartering to Fisheries and Oceans for work that Hudson could not do. That expedition to the Gulf of St.Lawrence cost $721,568.

 Leeway Oyssey at left and Coriolis II at right in winter layup at the old Coast Guard base.

Off Newfoundland the Fugro Discovery (Panama flag) was also hired for work that Hudson could not do at a cost of $822,000.

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