R/V Baltica research vessel

A research vessel co-owned by: the National Marine Fisheries Research Institute (NMFRI) as well as the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – Gdynia Marine Branch. NMFRI is its shipowner.

Purpose of the vessel

The main tasks of r/v Baltica are:

Oceanographic as well as biological and fishing research on the Baltic Sea

It is conducted to determine the possibilities of catches and specify the ecological conditions which affect the state of the resources. It is closely connected with the international biological programmes of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the implementation of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Research into the functioning of the Baltic Sea's ecosystem

Conducted within the international projects under the patronage of ICES, bilateral cooperation with the Baltic states and from the European Funds.

Environmental research on the Baltic Sea

Within the national programmes and international obligations, especially in the fields of oceanography, marine atmosphere, radioactive substances and pollution – obligations towards Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) – BMP, EGAP, MORS and data collection for the National Oceanographic Service.

General information

Name:	r/v Baltica
Year of construction:	1993
Flag:	Polish
Shipowner:	NMFRI
Call sign:	SNGH
IMO:	9032745
MMSI:	261061000

Research rooms and devices on board

biological laboratory (25m²),
chemical laboratory (20m²),
ichthyological laboratory (18m²),
physics laboratory (12m²),
meteorological cabin,
automated meteorology station MILOS-500,
ADCP – Doppler sea current profiling system,
hydroacoustic station for fish stock studies with SIMRAD EK60 echo sounder,
Sea – Bird SBE 911plus CTD integrated with a rosette sampler,
plankton nets:
- WP-2
- BONGO
- Multinet
- Apstein
- MIK
- ‘Manta’ Neuston net
Van Veen grabs with sampling area of 0.1 m² and weight of 36 kg,
Reineck box corer with a sampling area of 0.0225 m²,
core samplers,
bottom dredge for sampling mobile benthos, with a width of 0.5 m and mesh size of 0.5 cm, equipped with an underwater camera that allows for observing the dredge operation,
fishing nets (pelagic trawl type WP 53/64×4 with 6 mm mesh bar length in the codend (fine-mesh insert); bottom trawl type TV3 with 10 mm mesh bar length in the codend (insert),
computer network for coordinating sampling procedures as well as registering and analysing measurement data,
sampling room with a side port and a portable davit,
7 on-deck stations for sampling and fishing equipped with a line-cable hydrographic elevator and trawl,
rotating stern frame with a 3 tons capacity,
portable state-of-the-art research and sampling on-deck laboratory equipment for physical, chemical, biological or meteorological research and for resources or catch techniques estimation.

Vessel specifications

Length overall:	41.0 m
Length measured between perpendiculars:	35.5 m
Breadth:	9.0 m
Height up to the main deck:	4.5 m
Draught:	3.5 / 4.45 m
Capacity:	614 BRT
Deadweight tonnage:	242 t
Velocity:	11.5 knots

Cargo space:	130 m³
Maximum time of independent sailing:	30 days
Main engine:	produced by H. Cegielski type 8S20D; 1040 kW; (900 rpm)
Auxiliary generator:	Caterpillar 160 kVA
Screw propeller diameter:	2.7 m
Bow thruster:	type S 1.0 – 150
Home-port:	Gdynia
Crew / Research team
fishing cruises:	13 people/ 9 people
oceanographic cruises:	11 people / 11 people