Designing a Multi-Disciplinary Research Vessel

The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans operates research vessels for a variety of different disciplines. A vessel design, known as the Class II, is soon to be completed by Cleaver and Walkingshaw Ltd., Naval Architects in Vancouver. The vessel will be of medium size (76 metres length) and will be required to carry out physical and chemical oceanography, geological sampling, geophysical and hydrographic surveying, biological oceanography and a limited amount of fisheries research. Considerable ingenuity has been required to provide the flexibility to change from two major program areas of oceanography and hydrography.