Kongsberg Maritime chosen for new German research vessel

May 4 (UPI) -- The German shipbuilder Fassmer has been awarded a contract for technical solutions for the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency, or BSH. The work involves the research vessel Atair II, and is based on the Integrated Vessel Concept developed by Kongsberg Maritime.

It would be the world's first government-owned ship powered by liquefied natural gas and will include advanced information sharing technology, propulsion management, and electrical systems supplied by Kongsberg.

"Kongsberg Integrated Vessel Concepts are a brand-new approach to vessel design and building that leverage the power of integration between disparate systems to produce gains in operational efficiency and reduced life-cycle costs across the board," Brynjulv Standal, vice president of global sales and marketing for Kongsberg Maritime, said in a press release.

"With concepts designed for specific ship types, our Integrated Vessel Concepts portfolio represents the cutting-edge of marine technology and engineering. We are delighted to work with BSH and Fassmer Werft to bring true integration to the new Atair."

The Altair II will be built at the Fassmer Werft shipyard in Berne, and is expected to be completed by 2020. It will be the largest vessel in the BSH fleet.

The ship will operated in the Baltic and North Seas, conducting hydrographic surveys, environmental research, and search and rescue missions. It will also be used as a test bed for navigational and radar equipment.