Built in Denmark in 2006 by Royal Denship A/S as an expedition-style yacht, M/Y Albula is ideal for marine research voyages.
At 11 knots, the M/V Albula has a range of approximately 6,500 nautical miles with a 20 per cent reserve. She has guest accommodation for 12, crew accommodation for 14 and life-saving equipment for 32 people, including crew.
Work areas include a wet lab, plus a lecture room/office, large lazerette with wet work area and drop-down swim platform, a large dive locker and compressor, and ample storage areas.
The M/V Albula has a steel hull with an aluminum superstructure. She is powered by two engines each having 2,260 horsepower (3,370 KW), and has a gross tonnage of 1,428 tonnes.
The boat deck can accommodate tenders up to 32 feet with a single point lift crane of Safe Working Load (SWL) 10,000 lbs. The bridge aft deck has a crane of SWL 2,000 lbs. The bridge aft deck can also be used as overflow storage for smaller boats. The vessel’s draft is 3.6 metres (11.81 feet).
The M/V Albula has a Vsat Internet connection (1mbps), Inmarsat fleet broadband for voice and back-up Internet, an Iridium satellite phone and Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) certification for operation in Sea Areas A1, A2 and A3 – up to 75 degrees north/south.
The vessel’s bridge and navigation systems are as per International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements. The vessel has X and S band radars, a Transas electronic navigational chart system, and a Furuno deep water sounder and sonar.
The vessel’s larger crane (maximum lift weight 10,000 lbs.) can lower equipment while the M/V Albula is anchored or stationary.
The vessel can deploy underwater vehicles provided they are small – for example, a two-person submarine. Working with tethered submarines or RUVS will only be possible at anchor in settled weather.
Large crates of gear can be loaded onto the vessel and secured on the boat deck or bridge deck aft. The maximum lift is 1,880 lbs. We cannot place more than 2,000 lbs. on the aft bridge deck.
The M/V Albula is not ice-classed or ice-rated, but its hull and frame spacing are ice-strengthened and meet 1D requirements. The vessel can operate in the vicinity of ice with due navigational caution.
The vessel does not have an A-frame or Dynamic positioning.
The M/V Albula has limited sampling capability and cannot trawl anything heavy.
