RESEARCH VESSELS

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

The name of our main research vessel is Spartana, which means unaffected, natural and modest. This perfectly also describes the spirit of our research team. Spartana is a 10 m wooden motor boat built in Genova in 1975. During 28 years she was travelling in the Ligurian Sea (Sanctuary of Cetaceans). After many adventures, she arrived to north Sardinia in 2003 to stay on the Emerald coast. Spartana has now 35 years later been converted into a research vessel by BDRI’s researchers. At present, Spartana 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 on-board.

Additionally, the Spartana 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 Spartana meets all safety and inspection standards required by Italian Government and Guard Coast. Among the research equipment found on-board, 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, snorkelling equipment, stationary hydrophone with a professional digital recorder, headphones, loudspeakers, photographic and video equipment both for surface and underwater.

The secondary BDRI’s research boat is smaller around 5.5 meters (18 feet) long. It is a motor craft boat configured with fiberglass hulls and equipped with a gasoline powered 40hp outboard engine. The boat has a sun/rain canopy however there is no toilet on-board.

The ship is equipped with mobile phone, flashlights, flares and smoke signals, navigation lights, bell, rescue dinghy, life-rings, 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 on-board, we have a  fish finder, echo sounder, surface water thermometer, GPS, anemometer, binoculars, Secchi disk, digital time recorders, snorkelling equipment, stationary hydrophone with a professional mobile digital recorder, photographic equipment, video equipment both for surface and underwater.