Naf Iolr

IOLR's New Research Vessel, R/V Bat Galim, Heads Out to Sea

R/V Bat Galim, IOLR's New Research Vessel, Takes to the Water

Following close to two years of dry-dock refitting at the Israeli Navy's Haifa yard, IOLR's refurbished research vessel, R/V Bat Galim, was back in the water in October 2015. The ship succeeds R/V Shikmona, IOLR's veteran "blue water" research platform, which had served since 1982. Shikmona — a 52-year-old commercial tender acquired from the US DEA — was first brought to Israel by IOLR founder Admiral Yochai Ben Nun and his crew. She gave excellent service, but the time had come for a newer vessel. The Israel Ministry of Energy and Water Resources agreed and provided funding to buy the surplus naval vessel I/S Bat Galim from the IDF Navy.

A Closer Look at R/V Bat Galim

Bat Galim is a utility tender first built in Germany for the German Navy in 1989 and later acquired by Israel. The steel-hulled ship displaces 400 tons, is 126 feet long and 30 feet wide, and draws 10 feet of water. Diesel engines rated at 1,210 horsepower deliver a top speed of 12.5 knots. Carrying 18 tons of fuel, it has a range of 1,000 nautical miles and accommodates 24 people — 6 crew and 18 scientists and technicians. The vessel is solidly constructed and in excellent shape, with fuel-efficient engines. Since it operates quietly underwater, it is an ideal platform for sonic instrumentation. Other useful research features include a Becker flap rudder for better low-speed maneuvering and a transom stern that can hold equipment containers.

Turning a Naval Vessel into a Research Ship

IOLR launched the retrofit in 2014, with completion anticipated in summer 2016. Guided by Dr. Gideon Tibor, Marine Geophysicist at IOLR-NIO Haifa, Bat Galim underwent extensive upgrades to become a state-of-the-art oceanographic research vessel with advanced instrumentation and capabilities. Major changes included reshaping the keel with an instrument "bell" to house a set of sonic measurement transducers (multi-beam sonar, ADCP — Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, USBL — underwater acoustic positioning, and echo sounder). Propulsion and navigation systems were adapted with water jets that hold the vessel steadily on station through dynamic positioning. The aft deck gained a 23-foot-high A-frame supporting a crane for launching heavy items such as measurement equipment, ROVs, and UAVs. The aft deck was also reworked to carry two interchangeable container modules housing laboratories that can be swapped as needed. The vessel will support geophysical surveys, high-resolution bathymetry, coring, trawl towing, and large sampling, working in deep water with onboard experimental and analytical resources.

A New Era for IOLR

Bat Galim will be the most capable deep-ocean research vessel in Israel and the most advanced in the Eastern Mediterranean, allowing IOLR to carry out stronger oceanographic research, especially in the deep sea. The ship helps open a new era for IOLR-NIO. As Israel moves further offshore into the Eastern Med to develop its marine natural resources, including gas reserves, new responsibilities come with it. With the "blue water" oceanography capabilities Bat Galim offers, IOLR will be a stronger partner to its European and Med Rim counterparts in studying, monitoring, and protecting the health of the Mediterranean Sea.

R/V Bat Galim research vessel at sea
R/V Bat Galim, IOLR's advanced research vessel

Explore More

Share This

Help spread the word about this research update.

Share on Twitter

Stay Connected

R/V Bat Galim reflects IOLR's push toward deeper offshore science in the Eastern Mediterranean. With its quiet hull, dynamic positioning, and modular lab containers, the vessel gives researchers a flexible base for surveys, sampling, and monitoring at sea.