Are you in need of an expedition research vessel that delivers data with the right instrumentation? The seas have gotten more dangerous in 2022. With global conflicts and an ocean that is becoming filled with plastic, and other debris you need a research vessel that will be ready for anything that expedition voyages can throw at it. Whether you’re examining the waters around Lake Superior or the Pacific water on the West coast, Hike Metal will make the right research vessel for you.
How to Build a Expedition Research Vessel
We have generations of experienced boat builders at Hike Metal. Our facilities have made boats for the Canadian Coast Guard, the United States government, the Chicago Fire Department, and many more search and rescue boats across Canada.
But not all boats are created equal. We understand that expedition research vessels have to be exceptionally stable with only the best instrumentation. Along with computers and communication equipment, scientists often have heavy and/or delicate machinery on board. A research vessel must make it as easy as possible for research equipment and people to get the data they need when moving across deep waters. Most expedition research vessels are designed for long-term ocean exploration. Some research vessels are so luxurious that they feel like ocean cruise ships!
Many of the basics of boat design remain consistent between research vessels and other ships. However, a research vessel requires special equipment and needs to be able to house and feed passengers during expedition voyages. They are effectively floating laboratories. Let us know what ocean exploration you have in mind and we will make it work within your budget and requirements.
The Process of Building a Research Vessel
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “form follows function.” Before we start building your ship, we will work with you to determine what function(s) your ship will need. A ship designed for the North Atlantic will have different requirements from one meant to study the water around Manitoulin Island. Furthermore, federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation have specific requirements for vessels.
Then the work begins. First, our designers will make a digital sketch of your ocean-class vessel. Once that sketch is complete and approved, we will begin working on your ship. This involves engineers, welders, and technicians working together. There are no prototypes in ship-making, so we have become experts at getting things right the first time.
Our shipwrights will work with you every step of the way to make sure the boat we make meets your specifications. We are proud to serve the scientific community by making the finest research vessels in our Lake Erie facility!
The Benefits of a Research Vessel
Research vessels are usually designed for expedition voyages such as NOAA Ocean Exploration. The scientific community uses these ships for ocean exploration and other studies that can only be performed in deep waters. The vessel you commission will be made to your specifications; if you need it for ocean exploration of the Pacific water around South Korea, we can make that.
The Cost of Building This Type of Boat
As one might expect, it costs a lot of money to build a boat. The average cost of building a research vessel is roughly 32.5 million CAD. This price is before paying the crew and staff for their work on deepwater habitats. Forays into ocean exploration are expensive. If that seems expensive, sometimes boat building costs can run away from themselves if you do not have the right team in place, or unforeseen circumstances happen at the wrong time.
Regardless of whether your research leads you to the South Atlantic Ocean or the bay of Rhode Island in the United States, we can optimize your ship for ocean exploration. We have made countless ocean-class vessels, so don’t hesitate to ask us to make a research vessel for you!
The Time It Takes to Build
On average, it takes 2.5 years to build a research vessel. During that time, we will be sketching, testing, and welding your ship. We will maintain contact with you during the entire process to make sure our design meets your specifications, whether they’re for NOAA ocean exploration or the fresh water of Lake Huron.
Research Vessel Equipment
The point of a research vessel is to let scientists deploy divers and heavy equipment while at sea. This means more emphasis has to be placed on stability when designing a research vessel.
Furthermore, research vessels often have specialized equipment. Ships for the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) not only have machines for monitoring deep waters and deep-sea habitats but also study the atmosphere. Some ships, like the RV Sikuliaq (National Science Foundation), can monitor carbon dioxide underwater. These features require advanced technology, which adds weight to the ship and thus affects its design. Since an ocean-class ship usually has a crew, it will also need accommodations for those long adventure sailing voyages!
Advanced research vessels may also wish to have wireless connections. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), information is sent via satellite on telepresence-enabled boats, allowing others in the science community to participate in the research as if they were on the ship! We can make a vessel for telepresence-enabled ocean exploration.
Final Thoughts:
When you commission a vessel from Hike Metal, many things are up to you. Will you be researching deep-sea habitats, conducting Dutch Harbor research in Alaska, or looking at the garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean? If your ship will be in upper Canada with polar bears, you should prepare your floating lab for icy waters!
Please let us know what your research vessel needs during the design process; we will make it happen. Contact us today to get started!
