December 20, 1996
P/V AURORA BOREALIS
INNOVATION IN SUPPORT OF ARCTIC RESEARCH
Construction will begin soon on the Aurora Borealis, a prototype vessel
that will serve as an Arctic Ocean research station. This vessel will be
40 meters long, will have two engines with a total of 1000 horsepower, and
2 masts to enable travel by sail as well.
Modern technology will play an important role in the vessel's navigation.
The latest advances in satellite and computer technology will also enable
the vessel to serve as a mobile data collection and transmission station,
thus providing more widespread access to data, and by extension, greater
access to the Arctic.
The vessel will be constructed around research laboratories and will permit
a wide variety of research. Among its unique characteristics is the design
of its hull, enabling the vessel to stay on-site even during the winter
months, thus enlarging the "window of opportunity" for research projects,
as well as reducing the need for expensive icebreaking assistance. In
addition, sailpower will permit periods of operation without mechanical
vibration or noise, reduce the frequency of refueling, and allow greater
autonomy.
Additional technical characteristics are available, that will demonstrate
the value of the vessel for researchers.
BACKGROUND
=46or the creation of this prototype vessel a company called Arctica
Miquelon, based in North America at St. Pierre & Miquelon, was created by
Pierre Sauvadet and Dr. Herv=E8 Roubertie. The vessel, once constructed,
will also be based at St. Pierre & Miquelon. This location will facilitate
Arctic voyages, in addition to generating new economic activity in St.
Pierre & Miquelon. Another important element of this project, the initial
testing of the vessel, is projected to take place in St. John's,
Newfoundland and in St. Petersburg, Russia.
It should be noted that Arctica Miquelon will not conduct research, but
will make the Aurora Borealis available to researchers who will lease the
time and facilities necessary for their work.
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
The team behind this vessel is comprised of a small, carefully-chosen group
of people with complementary skills. Pierre Sauvadet, with a background in
marine remote sensing and extensive sailing experience, conceptualized the
project and serves as its general manager; he is one of the few people to
have navigated the Arctic Ocean via both the Northeast Passage and the
Northwest Passage. The renowned French naval architect Jean-Charles Nahon,
of the Mauric Office in Marseille, incorporated several unique features in
the vessel's design thanks to his experience and vision. Dieter K. Gust,
the President of the CNB shipyard in Bordeaux, France, known for its
custom-built pleasure and working vessels, handles the financial backing
for the project. Olivier Lafourcade, director of the CNB shipbuilding
facility, coordinates the vessel's design and construction. Alain Dunoyer
de Segonzac, based in Paris, will handle European relations for the
project, while Susan Anderson Rivaleau, an American who has experience in
the management and funding of scientific research in the U.S., is
responsible for North American contacts. Dr. Herv=E8 Roubertie, a French
cancer researcher and physician, will coordinate medical research
activities on the vessel.
FEEDBACK REQUESTED
The Aurora Borealis will be able to support a range of research projects.
For example, Arctic researchers who want to collect annual data requiring a
longer-term presence at research sites or seasonal data that would
otherwise be difficult to obtain, who want to perform acoustic research
necessitating silent ship operations, or whose coastal research projects
require a shallow-draft vessel would find that the Aurora Borealis'
flexibility would facilitate their work. In fact, any Arctic specialist
would appreciate the quality of research support that the Aurora Borealis
will provide.
While construction on the vessel is planned to start shortly, there is
still some flexibility in the final design of the working and living
spaces. In addition, because of the modular design of some of the research
space, it will still be possible to customize some spaces for individual
projects after construction is completed.
Arctica Miquelon is seeking feedback from researchers who may eventually
use this vessel, to ensure that the Aurora Borealis will be optimally
responsive to the needs of the Arctic research community. In addition,
Arctica Miquelon is notifying researchers of the upcoming availability of
this vesel so that they will be able to incorporate this new research tool
in their budget planning activities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In order to assist researchers in becoming familiar with the
characteristics of this research station, a World Wide Web site is under
development. The Web site will contain vessel specifications, as well as
3-D interactive computer images, permitting "visits" to the vessel, and is
projected to be open later this fall. Further information can also be
obtained by contacting:
Susan Rivaleau, susan [at] aurora-borealis.com or
Pierre Sauvadet, pierre [at] aurora-borealis.com
Arctica Miquelon, French Office
162, quai de Brazza
31000 Bordeaux France
Phone: 33-557-808-557