History | |
---|---|
Name | Marion Dufresne |
Namesake | Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne |
Owner | CMA CGM The French Line |
Operator | Institut polaire français Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV) for oceanography; Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) for logistics |
Port of registry | Le Havre |
Builder | Ateliers et chantiers du Havre |
Launched | 23 June 1994 |
Commissioned | 12 May 1995 |
Identification |
|
Nickname(s) | Le Marduf |
Status | in active service |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 4,900 tonnes (empty) 10,380 tonnes full load |
Length | 120.50 m (395 ft 4 in) |
Beam | 20.60 m (67 ft 7 in) |
Draught | 6.95 m (22 ft 10 in) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) (max) |
Endurance | 2 months |
Capacity |
|
Complement |
|
Aircraft carried | Helicopter pad for one Eurocopter Dauphin, Eurocopter Écureuil, Aérospatiale Alouette II or Aérospatiale Alouette III |
Notes | [1] |
Marion Dufresne is a research and supply vessel named in honour of the 18th-century French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne launched in 1995 and having two main missions: logistic support for the French Austral Islands and oceanographic research.[1]
The Marion Dufresne (IMO 9050814)[2] is chartered by the French TAAF on an annual basis from the French shipping line CMA CGM (The French Line) and is maintained by the IPEV (Institut polaire français – Paul-Émile Victor). The current Marion Dufresne is the replacement for the slightly smaller Marion Dufresne that served the TAAF from 1973 to 1995.[1]
The ship was constructed by Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre of Normandy, France and delivered on 12 May 1995; it is registered in Marseille but its base of operations is the island of La Réunion.[1]
The Marion Dufresne was designed for the very severe weather conditions of the Southern Ocean. She possesses exceptional seakeeping behavior – allowing full performance in the very rough seas found there.[3]