ORV Franklin (1985-2002)

From 1985 until 2002, the Marine National Facility operated the 55-metre purpose-built oceanographic research vessel (ORV) Franklin.

Main specifications

Name of vessel

RV Franklin

Designer
SCHIFFKO Hamburg
Builder
NQEA Cairns
Flag Australia
Call sign
VJJF
Port of Registry
Hobart
Classification
LR + 100A + LMC, UMS
Year of construction
1984
Length 55.2 metres
Beam 11.8 metres
Draft 3.8 metres
Displacement 1187 tonnes
Design speed
13 knots
Main engine
Wartsila-Vasa 12V 22, 1590 kW 
Shaft generator
Stamford Newage 734A, 800kVA
Auxiliary Generators
2 * Detroit 12V 71T, Stamford Newage MSC 534D 300kW 
Propeller
Lips controllable pitch 
Bow thruster
Schottel S302 LSVCP, retractable & aximuthing, 5 t thrust
Stern thruster
Lips CT04-1, 4.5 t thrust 
Freshwater capacity
100 tonnes
Fuel capacity
160 tonnes
Freezing capacity
25 cubic metres
Crew complement
14
Scientific complement
12
Range 7500 metres
Fast rescue craft
Inflatable with outboard motor
Hospital
Single bed, basic medical facilities

Electronic equipment

Gyro compass

SG Brown MK10

Gyro compass

SG Brown MK100

Autopilot
SG Brown Ocean 2-080-3
Doppler log
JRC type JCN-203
Radar
JRC type JMA-626 3cm
Radar JRC type KMA-630 10cm
Nav Echo sounder
JRC type JFU-216, 200 & 28 kHz, colour 
Radio Direction Finder
JRC 1003C for 200 kHz & 2.8 MHz 
Positioning equipment
LIPS Joystick with fixed & portable control station, Position Hold mode on DGPS signal 
Bridge GPS
Trimble Navigation NavTrac 
Weather Fax
Furuno FAX 208A 
Meteorological Station  Automatic weather station with RS232 output 

Lifting and winching equipment

Stern A-Frame

9 tonne rating, outreach 2 metres, inboard reach 5 metres
Side A-Frame  Starboard mounted, 5 tonne rating, deck clearance 4.5 metres, outreach 2.5 metres, in-board reach 1.0 metre
 Seacrane HIAB 180, 10 tonne at 1.7 metres, 1.5 tonne at 10.3 metres
Main towing winch
NQEA, electro-hydraulic, 7000 metres 12 mm galvanised steel wire. 
CTD/Hydrology Winch  NQEA, electro-hydraulic, two drums holding 6000 metres 6.45 mm CTD cable with slip-rings and 10,000 metres 6mm galvanised steel wire.  

Scientific equipment

UPS

Thytec 20 kVA with battery pack, 240V outlets in all labs.
CTD Neal Brown system available if required 
 Pure water supply
Milli-Q System