NIJMEGEN – Electrical systems integrator Alewijnse has carried out an electrical refit of the 87m (286ft) OceanXplorer, a privately owned research vessel, at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam.
OceanX is an ocean exploration initiative founded by Ray Dalio, founder of the Bridgewater Associates investment firm, and his son Mark. The non-profit OceanX aims to use the newly refitted OceanXplorer to study ocean ecosystems to protect and preserve ocean environments.
The survey ship carries two subs, instruments for conductivity, temperature and depth measurements, a Hollywood-calibre media production studio, and a scientific research station.
Alewijnse installed high-tech systems onboard the OceanXplorer and integrated innovative lighting control, light temperature regulation systems for filming and an Electronic Chart Display and Information System.
A comprehensive network of 240 km of cabling was installed on board to support these systems. Alewijnse says it is particularly suited to refit a vessel like the OceanXplorer.
“Our greatest strength lies in installing complex systems and integrating all the equipment on board,” says technical project manager Erik van de Kamp. “We have interconnected various complex systems for science, film, AV-IT (Audio, Visual, and Information Technology) and data networking. We have also transformed the lighting design into a functional lighting control system.
OceanX Media is the media production arm of OceanX. It worked with the BBC on the Blue Planet and other documentaries.
The ship’s refit was a complex, a specialized project because the OceanXplorer combines the characteristics of an offshore vessel, a scientific research vessel, and an eco-tourism cruise ship.
When Alewijnse began a minor refit in 2018, Van de Kamp said, “We did not initially realize the scale of the project we were about to undertake. It gradually became an enormous undertaking in three phases, finally completed in mid-2023.
“The unexpected changes and the expanding scope presented the biggest challenges. We had to quickly engage the right people, and a complex project like the OceanXplorer is not something we encounter every day.”
