G.O Sars: The Most Advanced Research Vessel in the World

Research Vessels (RVs) have are a vital cog in the underwater oceanic explorations. As such it is a natural occurrence about RVs undergoing a lot of development and technological upgradations.

GO Sars, a Norwegian research vessel is a lingering testimony to this concept of advancements to the marine research vessels.

GO Sars

Named after a pioneering Norwegian life scientist, the concept of this survey ship was developed as a result of collaboration between the Bergen University and the Institute of Marine Research. In its own right, the marine research vessel is of a radical variance from its existing contemporaries.

In the almost 10 years of its existence, the survey vessel has come to be utilised in myriad sub-water operations ranging from open-oceanic fishing, sampling of underwater planktons and intensive seismal researching.

However the most distinguishing feature of the ship is its negligible – almost nil – noise emissions which in figures translates to a 99% curtailing in the emissions. Post its launching, the GO Sars replaced its predecessor and namesake as the leading survey vessel for the Institute of Marine Research and the Bergen University.

 Specifications

• The research vessel measures 77.5 metres lengthwise with a breadth of 16.4 metres
•  The ship has gross tonnage of 4,067 and DWT of 1,308 tonnes with a depth of 6.2 metres

• Go Sars offers a maximum speed of 17 knots

• Dual power supply of diesel-electricity generating over 8,000 megawatts

 Technicalities

• The Norwegian shipbuilding company FSM (Flekkefjord Slipp and Maskinfabrikk) was given the contract to build the vessel

• The RV is equipped with laboratories (15) to aid researching operations without any tangible delay

• The vessel also boasts of technologically advanced windlasses, communication and navigation systems. These include high-definition cameras, cranes, SONAR systems and echo-resounding equipments

 Noteworthy Explorations

Since its commissioning in the late 1990s and its launching in 2003, the vessel has undertaken several important oceanic exploratory navigations.

• In the year 2004, immediately after its launch the survey vessel was a part of the Middle Atlantic Ridge exploratory operations carried out by MAR-ECO. The exploration was mainly to research about the existence and presence of life-forms in this oceanic geography.
• In the year 2009, the RV explored the Northern circle of the Arctic in order to carry out exploration of the ecological system in the geographic arena.

References: discoverychannel, uib, imr