BDRI'S RESEARCH VESSELS

Depending on specific daily research objectives, either our principal research boat ("Spartana") or our secondary motorcraft boat "BDRI" will be used.

The name of our main research vessel is Spartana means unaffected, natural, modest describing perfectly the spirit of our research team. She is a 10 metres wooden motor boat built in Genoa in 1975. During 20 years she was sailing along the Ligurian Sea (Sanctuary of Cetaceans). After many adventures, she arrived to another area rich on cetaceans (North Sardinia) in 2000 to stay on the Emerald coast.

" Spartana " has been converted to a research vessel 32 years later by BDRI's researchers at the end of the 2007 season. At present, she has become the project's Cape Caution Workhorse and combines her classic looks with her modern navigation, safety and research equipment. Equipped with two 80hp Ford diesel engines, 4 beds, a kitchen, refrigerator and toilet facilities onboard.

Additionally, the research vessel is equipped with VHF, compass, two way radios, mobile phone, flashlights, flares and smoke signals, navigation lights, bell, rescue dinghy, life-rings, lifejackets, fire extinguishers, first-aid kit, anchor, nautical cards, radio-stereo, water pumps and a number of other safety devices. The research vessel meets all safety and inspection standards required by Italian Government and Guard Coast .

Among the research equipment found onboard, we have a fish finder, echo sounder, surface water thermometer, GPS, anemometer, Secchi disk, binocular, digital time recorders, laser night vision monocular, one computer, voice recorders, a rigid hull inflatable boat, snorkelling equipment, stationary hydrophone with a Professional 2-Channel mobile digital recorder, headphones, loudspeakers and photographic equipment, video equipment both for surface and underwater.

The secondary BDRI's research boat is smaller, at about 5.5 meters (18 feet) long. It is a motor craft boat configured with fiberglass hulls and equipped with gasoline outboard engine. The boat has a sun/rain canopy but there is no toilet onboard.

The ship is equipped with mobile phone, flashlights, flares and smoke signals, navigation lights, rescue dinghy, lifejackets, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, anchor, oars, water pump and a number of other safety devices. The ship meets all safety and inspection standards required by Italian Government and Guard Coast.

Among the research equipment found onboard, we have a fish finder with surface water thermometer, GPS, anemometer, binocular, Secchi disk, digital time recorders, snorkelling equipment, stationary hydrophone with a Professional 2-Channel mobile digital recorder, photographic equipment, video equipment both for surface and underwater.

Non-swimmers and persons uncomfortable on boats may be required to wear personal floatation devices (PFDs) provided by the researchers whenever the boat is underway. At the discretion of the project staff, all volunteers may be required to wear PFDs during boat work. Smoking is NOT allowed onboard the research boats.