RV Atair

BSH issued a request for proposals for a new research vessel in October 2014, and completed design work for the ship early in 2015. The ship was originally planned to have a cost of about €80 million and enter service late in the decade. Construction of Atair was sub-contracted to two German shipyards—Fassmer Werft and German Naval Yards (GNY). Construction began in December 2017, and the hull and superstructure were launched at German Naval Yards in February 2019. Upon her entry into service for BSH, which will own and operate Atair, she will replace the 1987-built Atair and operate primarily in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the North Atlantic Ocean. ==Design==

Atair measures long, wide, and has a draft of . She is powered by three Wärtsilä engines, two of which are LNG-capable, that give her a service speed of up to through a single propeller. Atair is the first research vessel in the world to have an LNG-fueled propulsion system. The crew complement is 18 sailors, with accommodations for up to 15 researchers. Scientific facilities on board include several types of sonar, laboratories, rigging to support the deployment of off-vessel equipment, and deck space to house additional temporary equipment. ==References==