R/V Bilim 2
Institute of Marine Sciences' main research ship, "Bilim 2's" designs were donated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA., which were at the time were blueprints of their R/V Alpha Helix . It was built in Istanbul, and launched in 1983. Steel hull, Length: 40.36 m, Beam: 9.47 m, Tonnage: 433 gross, 190 net tons, Draft: 3.80 m, Speed: 11.5 knots (21 km/h) max, 9.5 knots (18 km/h) cruising, 1.0-knot (2 km/h) min, Range: 6,500 miles (10,460 km), Propulsion: MWM diesel, 820 hp (611 kW), variable-pitch propeller, Schafran bridge control unit, fuel capacity 120 m3. A Global Positioning System (GPS) is used for navigation. The vessel also has conventional radar with 60 miles (97 km) range. The ship has central partial air conditioning and central heating.
The R/V Bilim 2 has quarters for a crew of 12, and can support a scientific party of 14 for a period of about 45 days at sea.
Physical and chemical data on board of the Bilim are obtained utilizing a Sea-Bird Model 9 CTD profiling system together with a General Oceanics rosette sampler having 12 bottles of 5 liter volume. The CTD and the rosette are operated using a Lebus hydrographic winch with a 2000 m cable. For on-board analyses an automatic Winkler titration system, an auto-analyzer, an in-situ spectrofluorometer, an irradiance meter as well as other instruments are available.
The vessel is fully equipped for fisheries and marine biological studies. Some of the major equipment for these investigations are a Norlau hydraulic trawl winch of 7.5 tons and 2 X 1500 m wire capacity, a hydraulic net winch of 6 ton capacity.
Marine geological investigations are carried out using an EG&G Uniboom shallow seismic system, side-scan sonars, and various corers. An underwater remotely operated camera (Mini Rover Benthos MK II) is also utilized in sea floor surveys.
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