Research vessels
The Baltic Sea Centre has several ships and boats stationed at the Askö Laboratory outside Trosa. They are used for research, education, environmental monitoring and for transport to and from the field station. Anyone working with research and education related to the sea, at Stockholm University or other universities, can apply to use our vessels.
Research vessels are important basic resources at a marine research station. At the Askö Laboratory, we have provided research vessels for scientists and students since the 1970s. Our current large vessel is R/V Electra af Askö, a state-of-the-art equipped and designed to our fit several research purposes and has become an important platfom to strengthen marine research and education at Stockholm University.
The research vessel R/V Electra af Askö
Its modern technical properties of high standard makes it possible for us to understand the world below the surface already during the expedition
Christoph Humborg, Baltic Sea Centre
About the ship
R/V Electra is a 24,3 metres long and 7 metres wide ice-breaking vessel. It is equipped with technical instruments for water- sediment- and geophysical sampling. Thanks to modern ship technique and low-impact engines R/V Electra has exceptional functionality to work in a larger geographical area.
Find R/V Electra's position in real time
R/V Electra's position is updated on a live map, on the Marine Traffic webpage.
Ship specifics, R/V Electra
Basic information
Length overall (LOA): 24,3 m
Length between PP: 20,1 m
Breadth: 7,2 m
Depth MLD: 3,5 m
Draught: 2,2 m
Displacement: 179 t
Main engines: 2 x Volvo Penta D16C-DMH 368kW/1800rpm
Speed: ~12 knots
Crew: 2-3 persons
Passengers: 35 persons
Proposed flag: Sweden
Material of hull: steel
Material of superstructure: aluminium
Operating range at full speed: 200 nm
Equipment for research
Multibeam: EM2040, 0.4°x0.7°, 200-400 kHz (max depth 600 m)
RTK GPS: Seapath 330+ (Position accuracy xy ±1 cm + 1 ppm RMS, z ±2 cm + 1 ppm RMS, heading accuracy 0.05°)
Motion sensor: MRU5+ (heave/pitch/roll)
Sub-bottom profiler: Topas PS40, 24ch, parametric (35-45 kHz/1-10 kHz)
Midwater split-beam sonar: EK80, 70 kHz/200 kHz
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP): Workhorse Mariner, 600 kHz (range up to 150 m)
SVP (Sound velocity/pressure): Valeport (mounted in the hull)
SVS (Sound velocity sensor): Valeport MiniSVS
CTD: Seabird 911+, 12 x 5l, O2, turbidity, CDOM, ChlA sensors
Weather station, Vaisala WXT530
Winches: InterOcean winch on aft-deck for handling up to 1.5 ton equipment, 600 m long 11.4 mm Ø wire. InterOcean heave compensated oceanographic winch for handling of CTD and light sampling gear, 600 m long 6.5 mm Ø wire.
A-frame: 5 t
Cranes: 1 x 1,5 t, 1 x 0,5 t
Lab space: seawater intake, fume hood, lab space of 31 m²
Container space: 10 foot container on aft-deck
Device room: 14 switch displays
Book our research vessels
Everybody interested in research time on our ships and boats, has to apply via the online form below. We will return with a confirmation as soon as possible. Need advice or guidance before booking? Please contact our staff!
Price list
All prices are in Swedish SEK.
| Ship | Universities | Authorities | Full cost price | |
| R/V Electra af Askö | ||||
| Day-expedition(1) | per hour | 1 300 | 1 900 | 2 400 |
| Expeditions - list prices(2) | ||||
| Student courses | Contact Eva Lindell | |||
| 2 crew | per 24-hours | 18 000 | 24 000 | 33 000 |
| 3 crew | per 24-hours | 22 000 | 31 000 | 39 000 |
| 4 crew | per 24-hours | 26 000 | 37 000 | 48 000 |
| Limanda | per hour | 800 | ||
| Sprattus | per hour | 500 | ||
| Perca | per hour | 300 | ||
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1) Minimum charge: 4 hours |
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R/V Yoldia
Since summer 2021, the 15 metre catamaran R/V Yoldia has been used for expeditions and environmental monitoring in the Askö vicinities. Yoldia can carry out sampling in shallow waters but can also be used for research towards the Landsort Deep. There is a spacious aft deck, suitable for sampling and it is possible to stay overnight.
Ship specifics
| Built | 2014 |
| Hull material | Glass fiber |
| Lenght (m) | 14,78 |
| Weight (tn) | 23 |
| Engines | 2 x Cummins QSC8.3 |
| Fuel | Diesel |
| Cruising speed knts | 18 |
| Top speed knts | 21 |
| AIS | AIS A, Simrad MX535B Class A |
| Accessories | Deck lift: 2 tn/2,4 m tai 0,3 tn/10 m Generator: FischerPanda; 6 kVA |
R/V Limanda
- 12 m, speed 17 knots, max. 12 passengers
Equipped with large working deck, crane, hydraulic winch, ADVETO navigation computer, sonar, microwave, refrigerator and toilet.
Other boats at Askö
- Sprattus (8.1 m, 30 knots, 11 persons)
Mostly for fast transports, run by our skippers. Can be used for diving assignments and for our Falcon ROV. - Perca (5m, 25 knots)
Ship officer, class VIII and boat habit required to drive. Equipped with portable chart plotter. Especially adapted for diving expeditions. - 3 open smaller boats with engine
- 1 rowing boat
Contact
Christoph Humborg
Scientific leader, Baltic Sea Centre
Thomas Strömsnäs
Commander of R/V Electra
Contact for information on expeditions or sampling with R/V Electra.
Mattias Murphy
Skipper and technician R/V Electra
Eva Lindell
Head of Askö Laboratory
Course contact for our ships
Last updated: May 24, 2023
Source: Department name