MV Alucia

MV Alucia was built at the Auroux Shipyard, France specifically as a heavy lift ship and launch/recovery platform for diving and submersible operations. MV Alucia was owned and operated by the French ocean research institute IFREMER from 1984 to June of 2004. She functioned as principal support ship and launch/recovery platform for the NAUTILE, one of the world's only submersibles capable of diving to 6,000 meters.

Since DeepOcean Quest acquired MV Alucia in June of 2004, the vessel has undergone an extensive refit, including completion of the requirements for the 5-year special survey for Bureau Veritas. DeepOcean Quest has also added both a modern sewage treatment plant and waste incinerator system, which enable the vessel to operate in environmentally sensitive areas of the world with minimum impact. Also the latest in technical diving equipment, including a 52-inch twin lock deck decompression chamber and four fully equipped rigid inflatable boats complement the submersible operation.

With MV Alucia, we now have access to a dedicated ship, with an established and impressive track record in the deep submergence industry. IFREMER used NADIR for over 20 years to launch and recovery the NAUTILE in some of the most inhospitable places on earth yet the vessel enjoys an unblemished record of safety. Our colleagues, DeepOcean Quest, can now support their own diving and submersible operations around the world, with their fully integrated and field tested submersible launch and recovery vessel MV Alucia.

Specifications:

• Launched: 1974
• Refitted 2005
• Length overall : 55.75 m
• Breadth overall : 11.91 m
• Maximum draught : 4.68 m
• Load displacement : 1,857 tonnes
• Gross tonnage : 1,142 UMS
• Classification : Bureau Veritas
• Speed : 11.0 knots
• Accommodation : 40 persons (14 crew / 6 submersible crew / 20 technical staff and    passengers)
• Engines : 2 x Cummins 1600 HP main engines (brand new)
• Generators: 4 x Detroit generators (brand new)
• Propulsion : 2 x shafts
• Thruster: 1 x Gill jet - 440 kW multidirectional thrust engine (360°)