Marine research vessel Aranda undergoes a complete refurbishment

The largest FINMARI research vessel Aranda (SYKE-MRC) will be thoroughly renovated in 2015-2018 for the next >20 years (11 M€ budget directly from the Ministry of Finance). The almost 30-year-old Aranda undergoes a renovation at Rauma Marine Constructions’ (RMC) shipyard in Rauma. The repairs will involve a seven-metre extension to the vessel, which will become more environmentally friendly.

The purpose of the Aranda’s refurbishment and modernisation is to ensure the ship's ability to function until the 2030s, while reducing its environmental impact and operating costs. The refurbishment involves adding a new block in the central section and redesigning both the aft and after-deck. The additional metres will not only facilitate the expansion of research and laboratory spaces, but also the transition to a completely electronic power transmission in accordance with new research requirements.

“The refit will enable the Aranda to run on biodiesel all year. In addition, the vessel will be able to travel short distances on battery power only, which will not only reduce emissions but also bring down the noise level caused by the ship when at sea. This is not only a major improvement for the marine organisms studied, it is also important for the research itself since it will make hydroacoustic surveys easier to perform,” says Development Manager Juha Flinkman of the Marine Research Centre,  the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE.