Publish Date: 4 February 2017 - 14:15

TEHRAN, Feb. 04 (MNA) – Iran’s first hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship called Persian Gulf Explorer was launched after being delivered to National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science.

On the fifth day of Fajr Decade, the first Iranian hydrographic and oceanographic survey ship, which has been designed and built by the Iranian Defense Ministry's Marine Industries Organization, was officially put into the water during a ceremony in Bandar Abbas.

Addressing the delivery ceremony, Head of Marine Industries Organization Rastegari commemorated victory of the Islamic Revolution saying “professional directors and specialists of Iran’s Defense Ministry, inspired by the late Leader of the Revolution Imam Khomeini as well as wise orders of the Leader, have managed to build oceanographic survey ship with advanced capabilities in accordance with global standards.”

On distinguished characteristics of the newly-built vessel, the official said “Persian Gulf Explorer enjoys an operating range of three thousand sea miles, lasting 40 days at sea and a maximum speed of 15 knots with excellent maneuverability, power, satellite communications systems, advanced CCP propulsion systems, the data transfer system and the DP system for dynamic stabilization of the ship.

“The vessel is also equipped with three laboratories and two freezers,” highlighted the official adding “the ship has received approval from reputable domestic and foreign institutions and offers numerous applications in the field of physical oceanography, marine chemistry, marine biology, geology, sea geophysics, professional climatology including atmospheric and meteorology in addition to sea mapping.”

Rastegari went on to underline that 85 mechanical, mobility, propulsion, electrical and electronics, navigation and telecommunication systems were embedded in the vessel; “a total of 150 industrial, research, academic and knowledge-based centers as well as various industry organizations of the Defense Department spent more than 300 thousand hours and carried out about 12 thousand administrative activities in order to construct the ship.

He deemed the project as a symbol of Resistance Economy commenting “sanctions imposed by enemies led to formation of the national achievement.”

The official went on to enumerate further advantages of the Iranian oceanographic survey ship including boosting self-esteem and self-reliance in marine science and industry, localization of new technologies, creation and strengthening of a network of capable partners in the supply chain and manufacturing subsystems, job creation, foreign exchange saving as well as training specialized human resources.

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