The Marion Dufresne Research Vessel
The Marion Dufresne is a large, versatile and multi-purpose vessel with two main functions: (1) performing oceanographic research; (2) resupplying the French austral islands of Crozet, Kerguelen, Amsterdam and Saint-Paul. At the same time, it is a passenger liner (for the transport of personnel and visitors to the French austral islands' research stations), a cargo vessel (for the transport of containers and heavy cargo to the stations), a fuel tanker, a helicopter carrier (to provide a base for passengers and light cargo flights), and a multidisplinary scientific vessel. Its special resupply capabilities make the Marion Dufresne one of the world's largest scientific vessels, with exceptional seaworthiness allowing for work in all weather conditions, and the best research vessel in the world for deep-sea coring.

Research activities

Research expeditions undertaken by the Marion Dufresne cover all aspects of oceanography: (1) marine geosciences (geology, geophysics, sedimentology, paleoclimatology); (2) biological oceanography (biology, biogeochemistry); (3) physical oceanography (physicochemistry, water mass properties and general circulation).


The Calypso coring system

Scientific Equipment and facilities

  1. Coring: Giant-corer handling system called CALYPSO, allowing for 10t and 60m long cores, which makes the vessel Marion Dufresne the world holder. It displays an integrated heavy sampling system made of a new generation of 30t band capstan winch (aramide cable compatible), and 3 drums holding 7500 m of large diameter cable (up to 30 mm), among others.
  2. Navigation: 3 GPS (with SkyFix differential correction), Doppler log, Gyrocompass, time server, GPS-aided inertial navigation system (Pos MV320), ultra short base line underwater objects positioning system (Posidonia), and dynamic vessel positioning system (Simrad Albatross).
  3. Environment: weather monitoring station, acoustic anemometer, 2 circuits for clean sea water, 2 continuous sampling thermosalinographs, 2 acoustic Doppler current profilers, 3 CTDs, and a 24-bottle rosette.
  4. Geophysics: sediment-penetrating, dual frequency multibeam echosounder of 12 and/or 3.5 kHz Thomson, analog echosounder, quadri-frequency, monobeam echosounder, proton sensor marine magnetometer, marine gravimeter Lacoste & Romberg, and 2 onboard seismic compressors.
  5. Computing and telecommunications: data acquisition and archiving, video control room, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet network, intranet Sun, HP and IBM workstations, PCs, plotters and printers, softwares (GMT, Caraibes for seafloor imaging), 2 Inmarsat terminals, and batched email and data transmission by 64 kbits Inmarsat B connection.

Main characteristics

  1. Dimensions: length 120.50 m, breadth 20.60 m, depth 12.80 m, draft 7 m, displacement 10380 t, deadweight 4900 t.
  2. Passenger accommodation: 110 passengers capacity, 59 cabins, 2 dining rooms, meeting room, lounges, conference/video room, and gym room.
  3. Builder: Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre (Le Havre, France), delivered on May 12, 1995.
  4. Operator: CMA CGM The French Line (22 quai Galliéni – 91158 Suresnes Cedex, France).
  5. Charterers: TAAF (Territory of French Austral and Antartic Lands) for the resupply of the French austral islands, and IPEV for the oceanographic campaigns.
  6. Propulsion: 3 diesel generator sets, 8250 kW electrical production capability, 2 synchronous electrical motors for vessel propulsion (3000 kW each), allowing for 13.5 knots (low consumption speed), 15.7 knots (cruising speed), and 17 knots (full speed).
  7. Cargo: 2500 t or 5600 m3 cargo capacity, up to 110 standard 20-foot containers, fixed cool rooms and refrigerated containers, 1170 m3 cargo fuel capacity with pumping and back-pumping system, 2 fast 25 t cranes (45 t when coupled), 1 logistic/oceanographic 18 t crane, and 3 t service crane.