RV Celtic Explorer

	RV Celtic Explorer off Lady's Holm, Shetland.
History
Ireland
Name	RV Celtic Explorer
Owner	Marine Institute
Operator	Marine Institute
In service	2003
Identification	Call sign: EIGB; IMO number: 9244439; MMSI number: 250487000;
Status	in active service, as of 2024
General characteristics
Class and type	fishing trawler
Tonnage	2,425 GT
Length	65.5 m (215 ft)
Beam	15 metres (49 ft)
Draught	5.8 metres (19 ft)
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Endurance	35 days

The Celtic Explorer is a multi-purpose research vessel operated by the Marine Institute in Galway, Ireland.^[1] It came into service in 2003 for use in fisheries acoustics research, oceanographic, hydrographic and geological as well as buoy/deep water mooring and ROV Operations. The vessel is 65.5 metres (215 ft) long and has a capacity to accommodate 35 personnel of which 20-22 can be scientists.^[2] The vessel's base is the Port of Galway which is located on the west coast of Ireland and offers ready access to the Atlantic Ocean.

In 2024, Celtic Explorer carried the Nereid Under Ice (NUI) remote-controlled submersible to study the glaciers of Greenland and their impact on sea level rise.^[3]

Capabilities

Acoustically silent (ICES 209), which minimises fish avoidance and provides an ideal environment for the collection of high quality acoustic data
Dynamic positioning
Retractable drop keel for acoustic transducers and other instrumentation
EM302, EM2040 & EM1002 multi-beams (reaching depths of up to 5000m)
Large dry and wet laboratories
A full complement of survey equipment and winches suitable for coring, trawling and drop camera operations
Adapted to accommodate a variety of Remotely Operated Vehicles including the Deepwater ROV Holland I
Maximum endurance of 35 day

References

^ "Celtic Explorer | Marine Institute". www.marine.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
^ "RV CELTIC EXPLORER". Eurofleets - An alliance of European marine research infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the research and industrial communities. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
^ Carrington, Damian; Scruton, Paul; Swan, Lucy (2024-09-06). "'Oh my God, what is that?': how the maelstrom under Greenland's glaciers could slow future sea level rise". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.

[1] "Celtic Explorer | Marine Institute". www.marine.ie. Retrieved 2024-04-14.

[2] "RV CELTIC EXPLORER". Eurofleets - An alliance of European marine research infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of the research and industrial communities. Retrieved 2024-04-14.

[3] Carrington, Damian; Scruton, Paul; Swan, Lucy (2024-09-06). "'Oh my God, what is that?': how the maelstrom under Greenland's glaciers could slow future sea level rise". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.

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