Important information for potential applicants to our open Transnational Access Call. Please register your application early and read this information.
RV Arni Fridriksson
Infrastructure Profile
Infrastructure Provider
Location/Home Port
Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
Organisation & Address
Marine and Freshwater Research Institution, Fornubudir 2, 220 Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
Normal Area of Operation
Icelandic Economic Area and Greenland-Faroe Ridge, Jan Mayen area
Maximum Number of Days Available
10 days
Scientists’ Travel and Logistics (T&L) Budget Available
€ 18,000.00
Overview
Length
70 m
Breadth
14 m
Draught
7.3 m
Gross Tonnage
2213 T
Ice Class Rating
1B
Dynamic Positioning (DP) Rating
No
Service Speed
11 knots
Maximum Number of Scientific Berths Available
17 berths available
Scientific and Technical Specifications
Laboratory Facilities
Large wet lab (fisheries lab), biological, salinity, chemical and phytoplankton laboratory
CTD/Plankton sampling
Towed and lowered plankton nets (including Multi-net)
Multi-Beam(s)/Sub Bottom profiling
Kongsberg Maritime EM302 (1*2 degree resolution), 30 kHz. Kongsberg Maritime TOPAS PS18 Sub-bottom Profiler.
Fisheries Echo Sounders/Sonar
Simrad EK 80 WBT/Splitbeam Echo Sounders at 18, 38, 70, 120 and 200 kHz. Simrad SU90 Search Sonar.
USBL
No USBL system onboard
Coring/Sampling Capabilities
Not Capable
Winches
The vessel is equipped with numerous winches for towing and scientific purposes. 3 main winches with a max pull of 32 T each, enable the vessel to operate two trawls simultaneously. The vessel has big drums for pelagic trawls or cables and a number of auxiliary winches. Scientific winches include:
• CTD Winch
• Hydrographic winch
• Zooplankton Winch
• Two electrical cable winches
• Multi-purpose winches for various uses
On board are three hydraulic cranes, two on aft (30 and 36 tm with a 19 m working radius) and one located on the forecastle deck (24 tm with 12 m working radius). To operate gear at the stern an A-frame with tan approx. 35 T lifting capacity is available.
Communications
Full internet connection and gsm-phone connection + Iridum. GMDSS, Inmarsat, Internet through satellite and 3G/4G
Special features
Shoe fittings for two containers on the trawl deck and one connection utility box for a container (water, drain, electricity, communication etc)
Silent vessel (ICES 209)
Suitable Surveys
Multipurpose silent research vessel. Suitable for all kinds of fisheries research, pelagic and demersal trawling to 2200m and fisheries acoustic surveys. New multibeam and sub-bottom profiler. Look-out tower for whale observations.
Scientific Limitations
Coring not available
Vessel capability to support ROV deployment
No special capabilities to support ROV deployment. Dedicated ROV winch must be provided.
Support offered to AQUARIUS users
Yes, but dependable on the request
Infrastructure Availability and Contact Details
Year 2025
Operating out of Hafnarfjordur, Iceland.
Jan 10 days
Feb 15 days
Mar 5 days
Apr 20 days
May 5 days
Jun 30 days
Jul 0 days
Aug 25 days
Sep 10 days
Oct 20 days
Nov 25 days
Dec 15 days
Year 2026
Operating out of Hafnarfjordur, Iceland.
Jan 10 days
Feb 15 days
Mar 5 days
Apr 20 days
May 5 days
Jun 30 days
Jul 0 days
Aug 25 days
Sep 10 days
Oct 20 days
Nov 25 days
Dec 15 days
Year 2027
Operating out of Hafnarfjordur, Iceland.
Jan 10 days
Feb 15 days
Mar 5 days
Apr 20 days
May 5 days
Jun 30 days
Jul 0 days
Aug 25 days
Sep 10 days
Oct 20 days
Nov 25 days
Dec 15 days
Contact email for applicants to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application
Guðmundur I. Bergþórsson: gudmundur.i.bergthorsson[at]hafogvatn.is;
Heimir Örn Hafsteinsson, Captain
heimir.orn.hafsteinsson[at]hafogvatn.is
Certification and Clearance Requirements
Medical Certification Requirements
General statement about health conditions
Are additional medical checks required?
No
Survival training certification required for joining vessel
STCW A-VI/1
Safety training for people coming onboard (given on the ship one hour before departure)
Additional certification required
No
Diplomatic clearance or other permits required and any relevant information about the application process
People visiting Iceland from EU and associated EU countries do not need a visa to enter the country. To check if you need a visa, please go the webpage of the Directorate of Immigration.
Under the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) MSR/Diplomatic clearance is required for research cruises taking place in other EEZs (national jurisdictions other than the vessel’s own). Application forms should be submitted via Diplomatic Channels (Government Foreign Departments/Ministries) 6-7 months prior to sailing by Principle Investigators in conjunction with the vessel operator. RV Vessel Operations department will generally administer the application process but please consult with the operators in advance.
Any additional clearances required for area or type of activity
For each foreign scientific team planning to do research in Icelandic water, a specific permit should be requested to the relevant Ministry (Foreign affairs, Environment and/or ministry of food, agriculture and fisheries). Obtaining this permit can take from 6 to 12 months, depending on the type of research envisioned and the sampling protocols.
Additional training required
STCW A-VI/1 (safety training) for people coming onboard, one hour before departure, will be provided by an external trainer, organized by the Infrastructure Operator.
Training Material
There will be training material onboard.