Important information for potential applicants to our open Transnational Access Call. Please register your application early and read this information.
RV Gaia Blu
Infrastructure Profile
Infrastructure Provider
Organisation & Address
CNR, P.le Aldo Moro 7, 00185 Roma (Italy)
Infrastructure Webpage
Webpage under construction
Normal Area of Operation
Mediterranean Sea, lat range 27°N/46°N, lon range -11°E/40°E
Maximum Number of Days Available
10 days
Scientists’ Travel and Logistics (T&L) Budget Available
€ 18,000.00
Overview
Length
92.9 m
Breadth
13 m
Draught
5.8 m
Gross Tonnage
2024 T
Ice Class Rating
1B
Dynamic Positioning (DP) Rating
DP0
Service Speed
11 knots
Maximum Number of Scientific Berths Available
22 berths available
Scientific and Technical Specifications
Laboratory Facilities
The ship has 6 labs (data acquisition room, dry lab, wet lab, data lab, science store, library/meeting room) with a total lab space of about 180 m². In the wet lab, 2 freezers and a refrigerator are available. Additional -20°C and -80°C freezers are available in the science store. On the cargo deck, there is space for two 20-feet containers (gear, lab, ROV control or refrigerator/freezer)
CTD/Plankton sampling
SBE911 CTD with 24 Niskin bottles Carousel sampler +
SBE911 CTD with 24 ultra-clean bottles GEOTRACES Carousel sampler
Multi-Beam(s)/Sub Bottom profiling
3 MBES, completed with positioning system Seapath 380 and MIDAS SVP (6000 m), MiniSVS, VA500, MRU 5:
• EM304 (50 kHz), 1000-5000 m
• EM712 (70-100 kHz), 200-1000/1200 m
• EM 2040-04 (200-400 kHz), < 250 m
Chirp sonar profiler Knudsen 3260 with one (1) 12kHz + nine (9) 3.5kHz transducers
Fisheries Echo Sounders/Sonar
• SIMRAD EK60 (ES18, ES38B, ES70-C, ES120-7C, ES200-7C and 710-30) with software EK80
• SIMRAD EA600 (12-16, 38-9, 120-25 and 200-28 kHz)
• SH90
USBL
HiPAP 352(P)
Coring/Sampling Capabilities
Coring and sampling capability up to 5500 m water depth.
• Piston corer with launching and recovery system up to 25m
• Gravity corer (10m max length)
• Box Corer, Grabs
Winches
• 4 Cranes – 1.3t, 1.3t, 1.7t, 2.4t
• 1 A-frame (9t), 2 J-frame (3t, 4t)
• 1 electric CTD Winch (40 kN) w/ LARS –5500 m Vectran cable
• 1 electric Corer Winch (90 kN) – 5500 m steel cable (12.7 mm)
• 1 electric Multipurpose Winch (90 kN) – 5500m steel cable (12.7 mm)
• 1 hydraulic multipurpose Winch (15 kN) – 2000 m Dyneema fiber (5 mm)
Communications
• C-band Maritime VSAT Antenna System (mod. v240 C)
• Sea Tel 97 series
• Land communication system (LTE, 5G)
• Starlink Flat High Performance Kit (Maritime/Energy)
Suitable Surveys
• Oceanography
• Geology
• Biology
• Chemistry
Scientific Limitations
Fisheries and geophysics. No winch available for SSS or multinet, but the ship is equipped to accommodate one (winch basement and electrical junction boxes)
Vessel capability to support ROV deployment
Yes
Support offered to AQUARIUS users
The new “Gaia Blu” is a multipurpose research vessel that will monitor the quality of the Mediterranean Sea. The ship offers a wide range of capabilities, including geophysical, marine geology and oceanographic facilities, laboratories, and equipment to monitor the environment process. The vessel has the most sophisticated instruments to enable high precision measurements of the deep sea and morphology of the seabed.
Infrastructure Availability and Contact Details
Year 2025
Mediterranean (Port of operations and period of availabilities TBC)
Year 2026
Mediterranean (Port of operations and period of availabilities TBC)
Year 2027
Mediterranean (Port of operations and period of availabilities TBC)
Contact email for applicants to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application
lorenza.evangelista[at]cnr.it
Certification and Clearance Requirements
Medical Certification Requirements
STCW Seafarers Medical Certificate
Are additional medical checks required?
TBD
Survival training certification required for joining vessel
STCW Personal Survival Techniques Training
Additional certification required
TBD
Diplomatic clearance or other permits required and any relevant information about the application process
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.
For operations in Italian waters, 2 months notice is required.
Additional training required
Users must take it upon themselves to complete the STCW95 Personal Survival Techniques Training.