Due to projected weather conditions, the Batten School & VIMS campus will close today, Monday, Dec. 8, at noon and reopen at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

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Vessel Specifications

R/V Virginia
R/V Virginia The R/V {em}Virginia{/em} at sea. © Mathias Marcotte/Méridien Maritime Réparation.
R/V Virginia Stern
R/V Virginia Stern The stern and aft working deck of the R/V Virginia © Mathias Marcotte/Méridien Maritime Réparation.
R/V Virginia Drylab
Drylab1 The drylab workspace aboard the R/V Virginia © Mathias Marcotte/Méridien Maritime Réparation.
R/V Virginia Drylab 2
Drylab2 Alternate view of the drylab aboard the R/V Virginia © Mathias Marcotte/Méridien Maritime Réparation.
R/V Virginia Wetlab
R/V Virginia Wetlab Workspace and laboratory table within the wetlab aboard the R/V Virginia © Mathias Marcotte/Méridien Maritime Réparation.

Legal & Operational Status

  • Ship Name R/V Virginia
  • Owner & Operator Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
  • Year Built 2018
  • Naval Architects JMS Naval Architects
  • Builder Meridien Maritime Reparation
  • Operational Status Oceanographic Research Vessel
  • Class: ABS Load Line Only
  • USCG Inspected: No
  • USCG Documentation: No
  • State Registered: Commonwealth of Virginia

Characteristics & Description

  • Length 93 feet (28.34 meters)
  • Beam 28 feet (8.5 meters)
  • Hull Depth 12.8 feet (3.8 meters)
  • Full Load Navigational Draft 9 feet 6 inches  (2.9 meters)
  • Height (to top of mast) TBD
  • Full Load Displacement TBD
  • Lightship Displacement TBD
  • Science Payload 20 long tons
  • International Gross Tons TBD
  • Maximum Deck Load TBD
  • Fuel Oil 8,700 gallons

Operating Parameters

  • Endurance 10 days
  • Maximum Sustained Speed 11 knots
  • Cruising Speed 10 knots
  • Dynamic Positioning Allows vessel to dynamically hold position in winds up to 25 knots and current speed of 1.75 knots
  • Range 1,500 nautical miles (1,726 miles or  2,778 kilometers)
  • Weather Limitations TBD

Accommodations

  • Total Berths 12
  • Accommodations 12 personnel in four 2-bunk staterooms and one 4-bunk stateroom
  • Crew 3 crew for 12-hour days, 5 crew for 24-7 operations
  • Marine Technician available if needed
  • Scientific Staff 7-9

Propulsion

The vessel is configured for a twin-diesel, single-screw, controllable pitch propeller.

  • Main Engines 2 Cummins QSK19 MCRS, US EPA Tier III, Rated 660 BHP @ 1,800 RPM, Continuous Duty
  • Bow Thruster Veth VCG-750
  • Gear Box 2-In, 1-Out Finnoy gearbox with clutchable output shaft to CPP and two clutchable PTOs each rated to 280 hp

Electrical Service

  • GE 480/208/120 VAC, 3-phase, 60 cycle
  • Generators Kohler 99 kW powered by John Deere 4045 diesel
  • Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) Availability TBD
  • All outlets in wet and dry lab are 15kva with isolation transformer to provide clean power
  • Server rack in dry lab has UPS provided

Communications

Internal

  • 9 Newmar PL-10 paging and intercom modules for two-way communication throughout the vessel
  • Furuno Loud Hailer LH 3000 hailer (2 stations). 30-watt loud hailer with intercom function

External

  • Sailor 500 Fleet Broadband, Verizon my-fy, two VHF Radios, ship cell phone
  • CCTV Cameras (8)

Water Supply & Wastewater

  • Potable Water 2,900 gallon tank, with reverse-osmosis system (Dometic XTC 2200) that can provide up to 2,200 gallons per day
  • Salt Water Deck wash-down pump up to 150 gallons per minute, raw water for wet lab, vans, and trace-metal analyses at 10 GPM
  • Wastewater The vessel provides sewage treatment that complies with MARPOL 2010 (Marine Pollution as established by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships). This allows for chlorination and de-chlorination before discharge.

Laboratories & Work Areas

  • Wet Lab ~130 square feet with access to aft working deck and dry lab
  • Dry Lab ~270 square feet with access to aft working deck and wet lab