Future Delivery at Sea (FDAS) - CEFAS Research Vessel

Tender description

Defra and Cefas seek to develop a contract for the design, build, commission, and delivery of a Scientific Research Vessel to replace RV Cefas Endeavour. The RV Cefas Endeavour reaches the end of its operational life in 2033, and it is the intention to enter a new vessel into service prior to this to ensure continuity of scientific delivery. The value of this procurement to Defra via Cefas is estimated at £75 million. Defra will be working with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) who will fund a further £50m via the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The ship is therefore funded 60% by Defra/Cefas and 40% by DSIT/NERC. Part of the requirement may also include identifying potential funding, financing and/or partnership options which may be applicable throughout the project lifecycle for both the design / build element and during the operational lifetime. This RV will replace the existing RV Cefas Endeavour that is reaching the end of its operational life and is critical to enabling Cefas to collect scientific data at sea and which can transform the way our seas are monitored by embracing new technologies for data collection and by providing next generation capability to progress our commitments to net zero. Cefas wishes to engage a suitably qualified and experienced shipyard for the design and build of a new Research Vessel which is specifically tailored to meet Cefas’ marine and fisheries scientific requirements and be capable of technological update over a service life of 30 years minimum. Defra seeks to develop a contract for the design, build, commission, and delivery of a replacement Research Vessel in accordance with the following high-level specification: 85m max length Less than 5,000gt Draft of approx. 5.5m Beam of approx. 18m Berths - 41 persons Multi-fuel (synthetic methanol / HVO / MGO) DP2 ICES209 The RV is intended to be a flexible platform suitable to perform tasks that include but are not limited to: Fishing Remote Sensing (e.g. hydrography, physical oceanography, etc.) Water Sampling Seabed Sampling Static Deployed Equipment (e.g. buoys) Dynamic Deployed Equipment (e.g. Remotely Operated Vehicle, etc.)