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(Research Vessel Building Unit, Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology)
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(한국해양과학기술원 종합연구선건조사업단)
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R/V EARDO, commissioned in 1992, has successfully carried out ocean research campaigns in Korean jurisdictional and adjacent waters, including continental margins and coastal zones within the Korean Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), for 29 years. However, it will soon be reaching the end of its useful service life. A replacement for R/V EARDO is urgently needed to ensure the safety of vessel itself and its crews, and efficient ship operation and maintenance, as well as to meet modern scientific mission requirements (SMRs). Basic specifications for a replacement ship have been devised and reviewed over the past nine months. A test of the proposed hull form was also performed. The total tonnage of the proposed vessel is approximately 740 tons, and the overall length and width are 62.0 and 11.6 m, respectively. The new ship will thus be 73% larger than the current R/V EARDO; in particular, the research workspace will be 4.4 times larger. The major design priorities are the propulsion system, efficiency of radiated noise and vibration control, and the dynamic positioning system. An environmentally friendly emission system, meeting International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III regulations, will be installed in the third exhaust pipe. Various wet and dry lab spaces as well as 32 different scientific instruments have also been considered in the ship design.