Newsroom
- Maritime
9 Jul 2020
DRASSM and iXblue unveil the future archaeological research vessel Alfred Merlin
With a length of 46 meters and a maximum width of 10.80 m and a draft of 3.2 meters, the Alfred Merlin will have a displacement of 400 tons. It will be able to reach a maximum speed of 15 knots, will carry provisions for up to 10 days and fuel for 3,500 nautical miles. Its composite structure, 60% lighter than its steel equivalent, will reduce its environmental impact: lower greenhouse gas emissions, lower fuel consumption, eliminating anti-corrosion treatments, improving its underwater acoustic signature, and limiting the propagation of vibrations and underwater noise.
"iXblue is proud to be taking part in this adventure with the DRASSM. Participating in the development and construction of the Alfred Merlin, which foreshadows a new generation of scientific vessels, is a source of great pride for our Group and is part of our strategy to rethink the shipbuilding industry. The development of this vessel will also have made use of many skills within our company. Our inertial navigation units and artificial intelligence solutions will ensure the safety of the ship and of its navigation. Our Bragg gratings, made of special optical fibers and embedded in the ship’s hull, will enable the stresses exerted on the hull to be measured in real time, to optimize the construction of future ships. The Alfred Merlin will therefore be a true laboratory vessel throughout its life and will pave the way for a new type of research vessel."
"The construction of the underwater archaeological research vessel Alfred Merlin, the second large vessel built in less than a decade for the DRASSM, confirms the extraordinary vitality of French research in a discipline which our country has played a large part in inventing and in which France leads the world. Equipped with high-performance electronic detection systems and a fleet of robots built specially by the DRASSM and the Montpellier Laboratory of Informatics, Robotics and Microelectronics for very deep-water research, the Merlin will help better protect, study and promote the immersed heritage in all the waters under French jurisdiction, both around mainland France as well as in the overseas territories."
