MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay purchases scientific hydrographic research vessel from the US

Mt Mitchell is considered ideal for oceanography research such as chartering, sea bottoms studies, geophysics research, checking on submarine cable lines

Uruguay has purchased a private scientific hydrographic vessel, from a United States company, Global Seas LLC, and has paid US$ 3,5 million, according to official information from the government.

The current government has purchased the vessel given that the country's navy vessels are too obsolete for scientific research.

The Mt Mitchell vessel was built in 1969, purchased by Global Seas LLC, and refurbished in 2001, having installed new electronics, engines, and safety mechanisms, certified by the US Coast Guard. In 2003 with home port of Seattle, it became the only private research vessel in the US West coast, with the capacity of chartering the ocean floor to a depth of 11,000 meters.

Mt Mitchell is considered ideal for oceanography science research such as chartering, sea bottoms studies, geophysics research, checking on submarine cable lines and other in depth operations, while sailing at 7 to 8 knots speed.

The vessel is also expected to comply with logistic operations in Antarctica, where Uruguay has a permanent base. A team from the Uruguayan Navy has travelled to Seattle in the state of Washington for the final checks before sailing it to Montevideo.

Government Office in Montevideo said the Navy was after such a vessel since the ROU 22 Oyarbide, reached decommissioning date and ceased to operate as a scientific research and hydrographic vessel. Mt Mitchell is expected to be flagged by the Uruguayan navy at the end of June or early July.