Ships
At the Tjärnö Laboratory there is the 16 metre-long research vessel Nereus. In addition there is the 8.5 metre ship Doris as well as five small boats with outboard engines.
R/V Nereus
The research vessel Nereus, length 16 metres, is equipped for marine education and research during day-trips in coastal waters. The trained and experienced crew is familiar with handling and deploying scientific equipment, and with local conditions. During inshore expeditions Nereus can take 48 persons on board, during offshore expeditions 23 persons.
Nereus is equipped with AIS (Automatic Identification System). The ship sends regularly information about its position, course, speed, etc. You can follow the track of Nereus on MarineTraffic.
Ship data
Built by: Djupviks Varv (Swede Ship Marine), Tjörn, Sweden, 1983
Owner: University of Gothenburg, since 1983
Named after: a Greek sea-god, spouse to Doris and father to the Nereids
Dimensions
Length over all (L.O.A.): 15.5 m Width: 6.0 m
Draft (draught): 1.8 m
Freeboard, working deck: 1.0 m
Main engine: 2 • Volvo Penta TMD100A, 2 • 198 HP
Generator (auxiliary engine): Kubota, 380/220 V AC (17 kVA), 24 DC
Performance
Speed: 9.5 knots
Range: Sea area C (maximum 15 NM from place of refuge) and Sea area D (maximum 6 NM from place of refuge)
Maximum time at sea: 1 day
Navigation
Navigational software: OLEX
Echo sounder: Simrad ES60 38 Hz
Capacity and working space
Gross register tonnage: 62 GRT Fuel: 1.7 m3
Dry laboratory: 4 m2
Free working deck area: 35 m2
Crew and passengers
Crew: 2
Scientists/students: 23 within Sea area C, 48 within Sea area D
Certificate: Passenger Ship Safety Certificate
Scientific equipment
Deck lifting equipment: moveable A-frame
Winches: hydraulic 750 kg trawl winch with 2 drums à 1000 m wire; electric winch for CTD, with 300 m of wire
Instrument on board: CTD- system (Sea-Bird SBE 19Plus V2) with 6-bottle rosette water sampler, Easytrak system for acoustic underwater positioning and other equipment for use of ROV
Ship utilization
Total time at sea: approx. 200 expeditions per year or approx. 600-700 h per year
Contact
Telephone: +46 31 786 96 03
Call signal VHF: SKTD
Doris
The vessel Doris is 9 metres in length and equipped for marine research and education during day-trips in coastal waters. Persons with ”sjöbefälsexamen klass 8” or corresponding, and proven familiarity with the ship may hire Doris without crew from Tjärnö Laboratory.
Ship data
Built by: Westers Mekaniska, Jordfall, Sweden, 1982
Owner: University of Gothenburg, since 1982
Named after: spouse to the Greek sea-god Nereus, and mother to the Nereids
Dimensions
Length over all (L.O.A.): 8.57 m Width: 3.0 m
Draft (draught): 1.0 m
Freeboard, working deck: 0.4 m
Main engine: Volvo Penta TMD40, 120 HP
Crew and passengers
Total maximum number of persons on board: 12
Scientific equipment
Deck lifting equipment: moveable A-frame
Winch: hydraulic 100 kg winch with two drums à 300 m wire, for dredging and hydrography
Performance
Speed: 7.5 knots
Maximum time at sea: 1 day
Navigation
Navigational software: NaviGear Coastal Explorer 2009
Echo sounder: Furuno colour echo sounder
Capacity and working space
Fuel: 0.2 m3
Free working deck area: 9 m2
Contact
Telephone: +46 31 786 96 43
Call signal VHF: SFB 7700
The ships have a wide selection of instruments and sampling equipment both for open water and sediment, including plankton nets, dredges, CTD, rosette water sampler, remotely operated vehicles (ROV) etc.
We also have field equipment used in shallow waters and from land, as well as from smaller boats.
Small boats
Two 6 metre-long open boats with outboard engines may be used by employees and visiting researchers with permission and training equivalent to the Swedish Förarintyg or better.
Three 4,5 metre-long open boats with outboard engines may be used by students, employees and visiting researchers with permission in the nearby area.
Three 4 metre-long rowboats may be used by students, employees and visiting researchers after a briefing, in the nearby area. Each rowboat carries three persons.
All fieldwork during period 20 October - 31 May and/or outside the nearby area and/or working alone requires an approved risk assessment.
Contact, smaller boats
+46 31 786 96 03
Crane
In the harbour of Tjärnö Laboratory there is a crane for boats, heavy buoys etc. It lifts 5 tonnes and is maneuvered by our workshop personnel who have undergone special training. In 2021 this crane replaced a previous, more than 45 years old, crane which no longer fulfilled current requirements. The new crane is both hot-dip galvanized and painted, which hopefully makes it last at least as many years as the previous.
