RV L'Europe

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Infrastructure Profile

Infrastructure Provider

Location/Home Port

Toulon, France

Organisation & Address

IFREMER / French Oceanographic Fleet / 1625 route de Sainte-Anne – CS 10070 – 29280 Plouzané, FRANCE

Infrastructure Webpage

Visit website

Virtual vessel visit

Link to Vessel/Infrastructure Schedules (if applicable)

Visit Website

Normal Area of Operation

RV L’EUROPE operates in the Mediterranean Sea (37°N-44°N; 0°E-15°E)

Maximum Number of Days Available

10 days

Scientists’ Travel and Logistics (T&L) Budget Available

€ 6,118.00

Overview

Length

29.6 m

Breadth

10.6 m

Draught

3.5 m

Gross Tonnage

335 T

Ice Class Rating

Dynamic Positioning (DP) Rating

Service Speed

9 knots

Maximum Number of Scientific Berths Available

8 berths available

Scientific and Technical Specifications

Laboratory Facilities

Science HQ room, wet lab area and dry lab area (total: 50 m²)

Scientific freezers: -20°C (89 L) and -40°C (100 L)

CTD/Plankton sampling

CTD winch (electromechanical cable, Ø6.45 mm, L 3000 m)

Hydrology winch (stainless steel cable, Ø6.45 mm, L 3000 m)

Warning: There is no CTD permanently onboard (must be provided by the science team)

Multi-Beam(s)/Sub Bottom profiling

EM2040 capability (flush antenna)

Warning: Electronics & acquisition PC are fitted in a mobile

20’ container (which is not kept onboard permanently)

Fisheries Echo Sounders/Sonar

ME70 (70-120 kHz, water column or bathymetry mode)

EK60 (38, 70, 120, 200, 333 kHz)

MARPORT (trawl positioning) system

USBL

Retractable pole on which can be fitted USBL antennas (Posidonia, GAPS, RAMSES systems) but by default there is no USBL permanently onboard

Coring/Sampling Capabilities

Gravitational corer (Kullenberg, max 5 m), multitube interface corer, Shipek or Day grab capability

Winches

2 x Trawl door winches (Ø16 mm, L 2700 m)

Oceanography winch (Ø10.8 mm, L 5000 m)

Gilson winch (Ø20 mm, L 50 m)

Communications

VSAT (768 kb/s shore2ship; 256 kb/s ship2shore), Iridium, GSM phone and VOIP system

Special features

A-Frame (SWL: 5 T)

Main crane (SWL: 0.6t @ 12 m)

SBE21 thermosalinograph for surface water analysis

Meteorological station (atmospheric pressure, T°, etc)

Suitable Surveys

Fisheries & Biology, Oceanography, Mooring or seabottom gear deployment/recovery, AUV & ROV operations

Scientific Limitations

L’Europe works on a 5/1 rhythm (maximum of 5 days at sea, then 1 day on the quayside for maintenance, fuel, water or food supplies). Also, L’Europe is a catamaran and therefore the weather limitations are higher than a regular single-hull vessel.

Vessel capability to support ROV deployment

Yes (HROV Ariane)

Support offered to AQUARIUS users

Access to the vessel and full suite of onboard vessel equipment is provided. Please check equipment availability with the operator in advance.

Infrastructure Availability and Contact Details

Year 2025

1) Location: Mediterranean Sea

2) Availability: TBC, depending on regional cruise planning (Possibly beginning till mid August, then from mid November till end of December)

3) Port of operation: Toulon

Year 2026

1) Location: Mediterranean Sea

2) Availability: TBC, depending on regional cruise planning

3) Port of operation: Toulon

Year 2027

1) Location: Mediterranean Sea

2) Availability: TBC, depending on regional cruise planning

3) Port of operation: Toulon

Contact email for applicants to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application

francois.perroud[at]ifremer.fr

Certification and Clearance Requirements

Medical Certification Requirements

In order to embark, all personnel (seafarers, scientists, etc) have to:

– Provide a certificate justifying their fitness for working at sea (the maximum validity being 2 years under the age of 55 and 1 year for people over 55)

– Fill a confidential medical questionnaire (For emergency response)

– Declare if they have special food allergies

For further details, please check this website

Are additional medical checks required?

Possibly, if special operations (such as diving for instance) are planned

Survival training certification required for joining vessel

STCW survival training, although recommended, are only mandatory for seafarers (e.g. vessel crew) but NOT for scientists (which are considered as special personnel / technicians), but French maritime legislation may evolve in the future.

Additional certification required

Ship security awareness training is recommended but NOT mandatory.

A safety briefing and safety tour will be done onboard with the vessel’s chief officer.

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.

Any additional clearances required for area or type of activity

Yes:

– Access and benefit-sharing as established by Article 14 of the Nagoya Protocol (and here)

– If operations are carried out in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

– An environmental impact analysis may also be necessary depending on the case (country/area/operation)

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RV L'Europe

Integrating Research Infrastructures – Connecting Scientists – Enabling Transnational Access

for healthy and sustainable marine and freshwater ecosystems