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The Esturial is one of the few French scientific vessels dedicated to research on the aquatic resources of rivers and estuaries.

It is a 13.65 m catamaran, specially designed and equipped to carry out sampling fisheries, measurement campaigns and benthic sampling.

The Gironde estuary is the privileged domain of the Esturial. Thus, this vessel constitutes the basic tool for investigations on fish and crustacean populations within the framework of research protocols that imply sustained regularity and periodicity.

The management of the Esturial has been entrusted to GENAVIR, INRAE thus choosing a more professional logistic management, to the benefit of the quality of the study campaigns at sea.

Currently, three monthly campaigns, lasting an average of one week, are organized in connection with the monitoring of the impact of the Braud-et-Saint-Louis nuclear power plant on the circulating fauna and the restoration program for the native sturgeon Acipenser sturio.

Description and main characteristics

• Type: aluminum catamaran
• Equipment: inshore fishing - navigation 3rd category
• Year of construction: 1993
• Redesign, remotorization and modernization: 2009
• Home Port: Royan
• Overall length: 13.65 m
• Length PP: 12.31 m
• Overall width: 6.60 m
• Hollow: 2.38 m
• Rear draught: 1.75 m
• Gross Tonnage: 31.97 GRT
• Registration: BX 828518

Terms and conditions of use

• Permanent Crew: 1 Coastal Engineer Patron and 1-2 Coastal Mechanics
• Organization of trips: actual missions (excluding convoying) from 12 hours to 96 hours at sea maximum, with return to port, involving in addition to the crew, the presence of one or two scientists.
• Sailing conditions: 10 people maximum including the 5 basic agents, during the day and in good weather only.
• Beds: 5
• Meals: prepared on board for 6 people maximum

Equipments

Dry laboratory

• Computer 1.8 GHz, cd-dvd writer, USB, Rs232, Rj45 connections
• 2 x 17-inch screens iiYAMA (pro lite B1980SD), networked with PC similar to the bridge
• CINNA navigation software

Measuring equipment

• Meteo France Mercury Station
• Multiparameter probe Hydrolab minisonde 5: depth, temperature, conductivity, salinity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen (optical sensor); with automatic visualization and recording of the parameters according to time steps that can be set from the dry laboratory (load mast allowing descent to a depth of 30 m). The probe cable is connected to a winch, Kristal Fishing brand and model XL 302 Professional Canary super. This winch is connected to a PC in the ship's dry lab
• 5 General Hydrobios 43811 flowmeters to measure the volume filtered by fishing gears
• MARPORT trawl geometry control device (horizontal and vertical opening)

Audiovisual equipment

• Radio CD Pioneer
• Toshiba 22' LCD TV with DVB-T modem and integrated DVD repeater
• BOSE sound bar

Equipment, fishing and sampling possibilities

• 2 fishing winches Bopp type TS 500 Hydro split with 1 drum and 1 headstock each; capacity: 2 x 150 m funnels, Ø 14 mm (new funnels 13 September 2021)
• 1 Bopp caliorne winch for haveneaux
• 1 Bopp reel type E.C.H. 1 spool - 1 trawl net
• 1 beam trawl (W x H: 2.80 m x 0.50 m)
• 1 trawl net 4 bottom sides (L x H: 15 m x 6 m)
• 1 trawl net 2 GOV bottom sides (L x H: 15 m x 5 m)
• 2 Haveneaux (L x H: 4 m x 1 m)
• Suprabenthic sled (W x H: 2 m x 1.20 m)
• Suprabenthic sled (W x H: 1.25 m x 0.50 m)
• Benthic grab SMITH Mc INTYRE

Navigation and security

• Global Navigation Satellite Systems CNAV 5000
• Navigation GPS Furuno GP39
• Magnetic compass, blind compass
• Electronic compass fluxgate Furuno PG500
• Steering gear: hydraulic VHM60DT
• Radar KODEN MDC-1840BB radome version with ATA option, range 3 nautical miles
• Marinelec LYNX V32 vigilance controller
• Autopilot Neco Marine Auto 828 Pilot
• Safety Radar Furuno 36 nautical miles NAVNET DRS 4D NXT
• Depth sounder Koden NAVNET FURUNO
• NAVNET TZ2 FURUNO navigation software
• CINNA Navigation Software
• 2 10-seats Class 3 Bombards (Zodiac)
• CO2 extinguishing system for machine compartments
• Alarm and geolocation system “man over board” Seareka SV82N (transmitters fixed on safety jackets)
• 1 Bombard inflatable boat with a Honda 9.9hp.
• 1 swivel-mounted spotlight Allremote halogene 24V Kent marine (changed on 13 November 2020)
• Intel Core I3-9100TE 2.2 GHz processor, 16GB memory, 250GB SSD drive
• 2 x 17-inch screens iiYAMA (pro lite B1980SD), networked with computer in the lab

Communication

• Two-way VHF radio AVON
• GMDSS sailor VHF radio (international standard)
• Mobile VHF Mc Murdo with replacement battery
• GSM phone
• Antennas TNT and Wifi 15 dB
• Bridge intercom - lower deck - laboratory - upper deck
• Computers networked between bridge and laboratory

Fluids

• Direct current
• 24 V
• 250 Ah lighting battery
• Battery machine 250 Ah
• 2 plugs in the wet lab
• 2 plugs in the dry laboratory
• 1 take in the square
• 1 plug in the bridge
• Alternating current
• Converter 24V to 220V of 1000W for the computer network
• 220V per generator 13.5 KW with 220V sockets in all premises

Freshwater

• 1700 liter tank
• 1 hydrophore 220V for sanitary facilities, square, wet lab

Sea water

• 1 Stork pump of 15 m3/h for cleaning, fire, feeding the fish tank
• 1 dewatering pump (changed on 3 May 2021)

Cold

• 1 refrigerator for the 140 L on-board food in the wet laboratory
• 1 refrigerator for storing samples in the wet laboratory
• 1 freezer for storing samples in the wet laboratory

Fuel

• Diesel bunker of 4,900 liters

Oxygen

• 2 cylinders of 1 m3 of non-medical oxygen

Gas

• 2 propane cylinders for water heater and gas stove

Machine

• Engine: 2 Caterpillar 3056 DITA diesel engines
• Power: 2 x 208 hp (2 x 153KW)
• Twin Disk MG 5075 SC Reversing Gear Reducer
• Traction: 3.5 Tons at 1,500 rpm
• Maximum speed: 10 knots
• Range: 1000 miles at 9 knots
• Generator set : Cummins Onan 13.5 kW at 50 Hz
• Hydraulic Crane ALM Heila 2-1 S, max. load at the end of the jib 460 kg at 4.61 m with remote command and replacement battery
• Hydraulic Windlass Seimi 1201H
• 70 m mooring chain and 80 kg anchor
• Reversible air conditioning in wheelhouse