Early 2018 we were commissioned by NIOZ | NWO-I to develop the successor of their 30-year-old research vessel Navicula. The goal was to develop a tender specification with underlying design based on the wishes and requirements of all stakeholders.

After a long and intensive design, research and consultancy process, starting with a broad scale of solutions, the result was a concept design that excels in efficiency, speed, manoeuvrability and sea-going behaviour within the set constraints. In addition, much attention was given to (future) solutions to make the vessel emission free.

The European tender specification has been formulated in such a way that there is a good mix between functional and technical specifying, taking into account all European tender rules. We are therefore very proud that in early 2020, NIOZ | NWO-I took the decision to built the new research vessel, named Wim Wolff, at Thecla Bodewes Shipyards in Harlingen, which will be commissioned in 2023.