Oceans of Learning, a collaboration between the Marine Institute and Government departments and organisations across Ireland, this week focuses on Ireland’s national marine research vessels, the Celtic Voyager and Celtic Explorer.

The RV Celtic Voyager came into service in 1997 as Ireland’s first custom-built multi-purpose research vessel. Her purpose was to facilitate the sustainable development of the country’s vast marine resource.

In 2003, the RV Celtic Explorer was commissioned as Ireland’s first deep sea research vessel. At the time of its launch, the Celtic Explorer was the quietest research vessel in the world, meeting international underwater noise requirements essential for fisheries research.

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO of the Marine Institute said, “The Celtic Voyager and Celtic Explorer have been central to the Marine Institute’s work and research, enabling us as a nation to engage in high quality marine science and to actively contribute to international research programmes.

“The new national marine research vessel, RV Tom Crean, comes into service in 2022, replacing the Celtic Voyager. As we look forward to a bright future with the Tom Crean and Celtic Explorer, we take a moment to appreciate the legacy of the Celtic Voyager. The vessel has served us well over the past quarter of a century, providing marine scientists, researchers and crew members with many years of experience at sea, and enabling us to deepen our ocean knowledge.”

The RV Celtic Voyager replaced the 21 metre RV Lough Beltra, which had originally been a fishing trawler. Upgrading to a 31-metre research vessel was the beginning of a new era in marine science in Ireland, as the Marine Institute was able to provide a purpose built platform that could operate further out in Ireland’s ocean territory.

The research vessel has played an essential role in fisheries scientific research, and a vital role in seabed mapping in Irish waters, as part of the INFOMAR programme. More than 200 shipwrecks around the coast of Ireland including the RMS Lusitania, have been mapped by the Celtic Voyager. In 2007, the survey of Galway Bay revealed for the first time a detailed seafloor and geology of the bay, confirming the location of the Galway Bay Fault.

Over close to 25 years, the Celtic Voyager has completed more than 600 surveys, enabled more than 5,000 science days and sailed in excess of 400,000 miles.

The 65 metre RV Celtic Explorer is designed for fisheries acoustic research, oceanographic, hydrographic and geological investigations as well as buoy/deep water mooring and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) Operations. The vessel has a maximum endurance of 35 days offshore and can accommodate up to 35 personnel, including 20-22 scientists.

Expeditions on the RV Celtic Explorer in Irish and international waters have resulted in many exciting discoveries - from deep-water shark nurseries, cold-water coral reefs, to hydrothermal vents fields in the mid-Atlantic.

As part of Oceans of Learning, the Marine Institute’s Voyages video series profiles the people whose work is intertwined with Ireland’s national research vessels. Voyages shares insights into the people behind the science of our seas – Dr Louise Allcock, Professor of Zoology at NUI Galway, and David O’Sullivan, INFOMAR Programme at the Marine Institute – modern explorers on a voyage of discovery to safeguard the ocean and our future.

The Oceans of Learning series on marine.ie offers online interactive activities, videos and downloadable resources all about our ocean. A #SeaToMe social competition will encourage people across Ireland to share what the sea means to them for the chance to win weekly prizes.

Through Oceans of Learning, the Marine Institute comes together with Government Departments and organisations across Ireland including Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Bord Bia, Met Éireann, Commissioners of Irish Lights and EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, to celebrate and highlight the vital role our ocean plays in all of our lives.

The Marine Institute has today launched this year’s Oceans of Learning series, celebrating Ireland’s Marine Research Vessels and Ocean Explorers – Our Past, Present and Future.

Over a three-week period, Oceans of Learning celebrates our seas and Ireland’s valuable marine resource, marking both European Maritime Day (20th May) and World Oceans Day (8th June). The Oceans of Learning series on marine.ie offers online interactive activities, videos and downloadable resources all about our ocean. A #SeaToMe social competition will encourage people across Ireland to share what the sea means to them for the chance to win weekly prizes.

The RV Tom Crean will join Ireland’s marine research fleet in 2022

Beginning this week with a look at Irish research vessels used in the waters around Ireland, since as far back as 1865. Oceans of Learning will next feature the national research vessels of the present, the RV Celtic Voyager and RV Celtic Explorer. The final week of the campaign focuses on the future. The RV Tom Crean will join Ireland’s marine research fleet in 2022, marking a major milestone for marine research. The 52.8 metre vessel will provide a year round service for expanded fisheries surveys, seabed mapping, deep water surveys and support increased collaborative research in the Atlantic Ocean.

RV Celtic Explorer

Through the Oceans of Learning series, the Marine Institute comes together with Government Departments and organisations across Ireland including Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Bord Bia, Met Éireann, Commissioners of Irish Lights and EPIC Irish Emigration Museum, to celebrate and highlight the vital role our ocean plays in all of our lives.

Dr Paul Connolly, CEO of the Marine Institute, said “As we anticipate the arrival of Ireland’s new state-of-the-art, multi-purpose research vessel the RV Tom Crean, it’s the perfect time to reflect on our research vessels and explorers of the past and to mark the wonderful achievements of our present day research vessels – the RV Celtic Voyager which came into service in 1997 and the RV Celtic Explorer which arrived in 2003.

“These research vessels have been central to the Marine Institute’s work and research programmes. They enhance our ability to collaborate with our many national and international partners and are central to positioning Ireland as a leader in ocean knowledge. They continue to facilitate a deeper understanding of our ocean, helping us to safeguard it for future generations.”

A new video released this week as part of Oceans of Learning focuses on Ireland’s research vessels of the past.

In the early years of fisheries surveys and marine research (the late 19th century), a variety of different ships were used in the waters around Ireland. One of the first on record was the HMS Lightning (1865-67), a wooden-hulled paddle powered gun vessel. Other ships from these early days of fisheries research include the Flying Fox, Fingal, Harlequin, Granuaile and Saturn.

The Helga was purchased in 1900 – the same year the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction was established - and used both as a scientific research vessel and as a fisheries protection vessel.

Helga II (also known as HMS Helga, Muirchú) came into service as a fishery research vessel in 1908. She was solely designed to carry out scientific investigations in Irish waters. A modern creation, she was fully electrified, contained refrigeration units and a continuous-wave radio.

At various points in her history, the Helga II was requisitioned away from fisheries research work. She served as an anti-submarine patrol vessel during World War I, was involved in shelling buildings in Dublin occupied by Irish volunteers during the 1916 Rising, and played a key role during the Civil War in moving Free State troops.

At the outbreak of World War II, the Free State did not yet have a navy and the ship, now named Muirchú (Sea Hound), was one of the first ships to be co-opted for the then Marine and Coastwatching Service.

In 1947, the ship was decommissioned and sold to a Dublin company for scrap. In transit from Cork, she began to take on water. Those onboard were rescued and the vessel sank beneath the waves off the Wexford coast.

Several ships were used as research vessels over the following years: the steam trawler Fort Rannoch (1938-1947), Cú Feasa – Hound of Knowledge (commissioned in 1958), Cú na Mara – Hound of the Sea (1966-1972) and the RV Lough Beltra (1976-1997).

Launched in 1973 as a 21 metre fishing trawler, the Lough Beltra was refitted in 1976 as Ireland’s national research vessel. She had the most up-to-date navigational equipment at the time, including a Decca Auto Pilot, Track Plotter, Navigator and Radar.

From 1994 to 1997, the vessel surveyed areas of the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. She was decommissioned in 1997, when the newly built RV Celtic Voyager, managed by the Marine Institute, came into service