Vessel with a mission refits at Rivergate
Rivergate recently welcomed the 184-foot (58.22-metre) Pangaea Ocean Explorer, the world-traversing expedition motor yacht, for an extensive series of works over three months.
Pangaea is the state-of-the-art deep-water marine research vessel that carries out the Flourishing Ocean initiative, aiming to “engage the best science and latest technologies to halt damage and support initiatives towards its recovery”.
This explorer vessel and her crew are committed to finding strategies that will address overfishing, the dumping of plastic, rising sea temperatures and CO2 levels, as well as supporting the sustainable use of ocean resources and conservation of key habitats.
Rivergate Project Manager, Marty Johnson said the multifaceted refit project involved around 80 trades and contractors, covering engineering, fabrication, painting, electronics installation and plumbing.
The extensive refit works impacted most of the vessel’s systems. The most complex part of the project was the addition of a gondola fixed in the underside of the hull which will be used in deep sea observation and data collection.
Pangaea travels the world’s ocean surveying marine life, sampling water and monitoring Reefs.
“The gondola is 5-metres by 4-metres and will house the transducers and sensors used in ocean research,” said Marty. “It doesn’t protrude lower than the keel line, so it won’t impact Pangaea accessing bays and reefs.”
The refit also involved replacing the Bridge electronics, a new dining room, new auxiliary and emergency generators installed, waste and sewage systems and monitor station.
“Pangaea has an extensive dive set up, underwater drones, the latest high-tech equipment for water sampling and broadcasting. Other than Navy vessels, there are very few vessels with this kind of technology onboard.”
During refit works at Rivergate, technicians installed generators that boast low emission gas expulsion suitable for exploring sensitive waters. A sophisticated desal system and Hamann marine sewage and wastewater treatment systems were also installed.
The project ran smoothly and relied on the expertise of Rivergate’s Project Management team, the highly skilled marine businesses on-site and network of talented contractors drawn from south-east Queensland.
Captain John Tyler “JT” Bundren is the Master of Pangaea, which has traversed the world’s seas and is now undertaking research in Australian waters.
Following a decade earning his stripes plying the “milk run” (Mediterranean/Caribbean), JT has spent the past 10 years working with organisations with a preference for “off the beaten path”, exploring the Asia-Pacific.
As JT explains, Pangaea’s mission is to “conduct marine research directed at the conservation of marine ecosystems and getting our oceans back to a flourishing state”.
“Among other things we are developing new approaches to monitoring ocean wildlife and biodiversity. We have 13 permanent crew aboard and this number fluctuates depending on the scientific mission at hand. Pangaea is blessed with a group of great people aboard who are able to think on their feet, continually stretching targets in a dynamic work environment.”
The vessel’s unique arsenal of equipment comprises its Kongsberg Multi beam sonar systems installed aboard to allow crew to perform hydrographic surveys, whether that’s in shallow waters or deep-water canyons and trenches.
“One particular transducer [acoustic system] also captures detail of biomass in the water column which aids our research. It is quite a large system for a boat of Pangaea’s size and the first of this generation to be installed in Australia.”
Commenting on the complex work undertaken at Rivergate, JT said “There were heaps of design and logistic challenges”.
“Even prior to COVID, the install was always going to be a challenge. Add a global pandemic and the team aboard, naval architects, and Rivergate were required to think outside to box in order to see install through to completion on schedule.”
The installation work was completed to schedule in three and a half months and commissioning is still ongoing.
“COVID has made everything more challenging logistically but we are soldiering on. We’re currently collecting water samples for DNA sequencing and identification of marine wildlife around the Great Barrier Reef.”
This one-of-a-kind, ocean-going explorer craft is floating testament to world-class marine engineering, ingenuity and craftsmanship, but its true value lies in its objectives.
As the Captain states: “Working with an organisation that is actively seeking to make a difference, I like to think that research conducted aboard Pangaea will play a part in protecting the marine world and bringing the oceans back to a flourishing state that my children can enjoy long after I’m gone.”