German research flagship Atair enters service

Billed as the world’s first ocean-going, government-owned, LNG-propelled survey, wreck-location and research ship, Atair is “designed for special tasks”. It also holds Germany’s highest energy-efficient and low noise design award, the coveted Blauer Engel, complies with IMO Tier 111 emission requirements and has a DNV SILENT R Class Notation.

German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer officially handed over the newbuild at Hamburg’s Überseebrücke to operators, the Hamburg- based Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) – Germany’s central maritime authority.

Scheuer described the newbuild, now the flagship and biggest of the BSH’s five special ships, as “highly networked, environmentally friendly and extremely quiet … a floating research island”. With a crew of 18 and accommodation for 15 scientists, its facilities include both specialist wet and dry laboratories, a working crane, a sliding beam for seabed geological work, a 200m2 free working deck and extensive diving equipment with pressure chamber.

The75m loa and 16.8m wide Atair, drawing 16.8m and of 3,134gt, was planned and developed by Germany’s Hydraulic Engineering Agency (BAW) and built by Fassmer Werft.

Ordered in 2016 to replace an older namesake it should have gone into service last year. That was delayed because of longer than expected sea trials and Covid restrictions affecting involved foreign company personnel.

Another challenge was the decision to change from originally tender-stipulated diesel-electric propulsion to diesel-LNG-electric drive. Atair now has a 13 knot engine configuration comprising two six-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF engines and one Wärtsilä 6L20 unit, capable of switching between conventional and gas fuels without loss of power and speed.

Two scrubber systems are installed and also a Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage, supply and control system with a 130 m3 tank for 10 days of independent LNG operation. The ship is also fitted with 960kW Schottel STT bow and stern thrusters and a helicopter landing pad.

Atair’s service inauguration follows conversion by the German Government of an option with the Abeking and Rasmussen shipyard for a third 95m LNG- fuelled multi-purpose emergency response and pollution control ship.

Together worth some €600 million the ships are for delivery up to 2025 and will replace smaller old ships operating in the North Sea and Baltic, They will, according to current available information, have LNG-electric propulsion developed by RRPS and based on gas-shielded Bergen B36:456AG engines.