The “Odón de Buen” touches the water in Vigo

2023-07-05 22:10:46

He Odo of Goodthe biggest oceanographic research buque in Spain, Today it had its first contact with the sea that it will study when it is operational next year. The hull was launched at the facilities where it was developed, the Armón de Vigo shipyard, by sliding on a rail, a process that lasted around half an hour and culminated in the subsequent docking of the ship at another point in the port.

The launching ceremony has been a big step for the new ship of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) dependent on the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). The director of the Oceanographic Center of Vigo, Pablo Carrera, affirmed that the construction has supposed “nine months of intense work, almost a gestation”.

The executive director of Astilleros Armón, Laudelino Alperiexplained that it is “an entirely Spanish project that combines the efforts of national science and engineering” and that “reflects experience, knowledge and professionalism acquired in the last fifteen years” by the Vigués shipyard, specialized in the construction of oceanographic vessels like him Odo of Good.

The president of the CSIC, Eloisa del Pinopointed out that, after launching, the ship still needs to pass the port and sea tests to be able to sail, and “we hope that we will all be here next summer seeing how it goes to sea”. This vessel represents an “impressive scientific advance, and not in any way, but by doing sustainable science”, Del Pino added.

He Odo of Goodabout 85 meters long and 18 meters wide, with an autonomy of about 50 days of navigation, is a vessel prepared to reduce its emissions and will have technology to study ecosystems, habitats and seabeds in all oceans, including in areas polar and in depths of up to about 6,000 meters.

The Odon of good, piece by piece OLAYA LOPEZ

The writer and illustrator Xosé Iglesias showed a drawing of the “spirit” of Odo of Goodfounder of the IEO and pioneer of oceanography in Europe, after which the ship is named.

The Ministry of Science and Innovation has allocated 85 million euros, with support from the European Regional Development Fund (Feder), for the construction of the ship, which has generated some 250 jobs at the Armón shipyard.

The colossal ship, in which Nearly 250 professionals have worked and will continue to work until the summer of 2024when it is expected to be delivered in Cádiz, also has 500 square meters of laboratory to carry out projects in fields such as biology or physics, and more than 100 concentrated in a fishing park.

He Odo of Good replaces the already retired Cornide of Saavedra (66.7 meters) and beats the almighty Hesperides of the Spanish Navy (82.5 meters). Also to Sarmiento de Gamboa from the CSIC (70.5 meters), at Miguel Oliver and the Viscount of Eza from the General Secretariat of Fisheries (70 and 53 meters respectively) or at Angeles Alvariño and the Ramón de Margalef (both 46.7 meters, who were born in the same facilities as their new older brother and owned by the IEO, where the latter will also go).