Dun Laoghaire Harbour saw the arrival of an unusual seaborne visitor this morning with the arrival of the Geoquip Seehorn supply vessel to the Dublin Bay harbour.
Sailing under the flag of Cyprus, the integrated geotechnical survey vessel (IGSV) arrived from Liverpool.
The ship was converted in 2015 to be a geotechnical drilling vessel and is fitted with a large yellow-coloured drilling tower.
Seehorn is equipped to carry out large-scale research projects that have a combination of seabed CPT and borehole locations. A dedicated launching mechanism offers a quick, smooth and safe switch between drilling mode and seabed CPT mode through the large moonpool.
Her carrying capacity is 2500 t DWT, and her current draught is reportedly 5.5 metres. Her length overall (LOA) is 83.45 meters, and her width is 18.01 meters.
The ship is among the first to benefit from the new ship fender installation on the town's Carlisle Pier, which began in August.
As regular Afloat readers know, the installation of nine new fenders supported on tubular piles is designed to increase the capacity and flexibility of the quay for berthing a range of vessels that moor at the harbour.
These visitors to 'berth number three' include Navy ships, cruise liners, wind farm service and research vessels, beam trawlers and visiting superyachts,