RVBI Laura Bassi is an icebreaker that supports the Italian National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA). The ship offers to the European and the International Earth and marine science communities a wide range of instruments, including geophysical, marine geology, biology and oceanographic facilities and equipment.

Contribution to POLARIN key research challenges: 1,2,4,5,6

Contact              ÂFranco Coren                      fcoren[at]ogs.it

Website

https://www.ogs.it/en/research-vessel-laura-bassi

Location

Home port: Trieste, Italy.

Facilities
RVBI Laura Bassi is an icebreaker that supports the Italian National Antarctic Research  Program (PNRA). The ship offers to the European and the International Earth and marine science communities a wide range of instruments, including geophysical, marine geology, biology and oceanographic facilities and equipment.
High standard accommodation comprising facilities such as: Reception area, ships office, change  room, recreation area, trim room, sauna, mess, TV/Crew dayroom, charterer’s  lounge, launderettes, laundry, client office 
Crew: 24 beds
Available for charterers 
2 single client rep. cabin =   2 
4 cabins x 2 beds =   8 
9 cabins x 3 beds =   27 
6 cabins x 4 beds =   24 
Total= 61 beds
All cabins with toilet and shower 
Hospital: 1 bed
Equipment: Two multibeam echosounders for shallow and deep water surveys Kongsberg EM 304 an EM2040c. 
A sub bottom profiling system for the study of the subsoil up to few tens of meters; an acoustic doppler current profiler; a fishing echosounder to locate and map the biomass, CTD winch and a streamer winch in baltic room, Coring winch and A frame, to perform gravity and piston coring, Sercel 428 seismic system with 1500 m streamer.

Services offered

Bathymetric surveys, sub seafloor exploration at different scale of penetration and resolution, sediment and water sampling, current profiling, fishery echosounding, atmospheric measures (both available to direct and remote access).

What is included in the Access

Unit of access: RI/day

Modalities of access offered: In-person access and remote access

6 operational days in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) from New Zealand for 4 users with full support from the OGS technical crew for operating the scientific equipment. The typical duration of work will be 45 days as part of the Antarctic mission under PNRA during the austral summer. The days dedicated to the POLARIN users will be integrated within one of the two legs of the PNRA mission. Users will have full access to the scientific equipment.

Availability for access in the TA Call 2024

Middle of December to early days of March for missions in Ross Sea and George V Land – Adelie Land.

Time frame for access preparations
Time frame to receive the documentation from RI users (after access is granted): Three months before the travel.
Time frame for logistic arrangements to access the RI:  One month before the travel.

Permits, licenses and training

ZAEPs authorisation.

Medical guidelines

Health certificate for extreme zones.