National Research Fleet

The facility 

The National Research Fleet of the Netherlands consists of three research vessels. It is part of the National Marine Facilities (NMF), a division of NIOZ, that maintains and operates research ships and seagoing equipment. Furthermore, NMF provides qualified support personnel, including data management, to operate the facilities in order to provides access for researchers working in the Netherlands. 

RV Pelagia 

RV Pelagia is 66 meter long vessel for multidisciplinary research and the largest sea-going vessel of the National Research Fleet. The Pelagia is the flagship of ocean research in the Netherlands, operating year-round in all oceans and seas except for the Polar regions. To accommodate the large variety of research activities that take place at sea, the ship uses containerized laboratories of a standard 20-foot size. A total of nine containers can be placed on board; four on the aft deck and five inside the ship. This is a very flexible and efficient system which allows the use of tailor-made laboratories for highly specialized types of research. In addition to the container laboratories, three permanent laboratories are also available for general use. 

RV Pelagia will retire in October 2025, and her replacement will be RV Anna Weber-van Bosse. The new vessel’s operations are expected to start in mid-2026. For more information: News RV Anna Weber-van Bosse - NIOZ.

RV Wim Wolff

RV Wim Wolff is a 37m long vessel specifically designed for the Wadden Sea, Delta, and near-coastal North Sea operations. The design prioritized the strong ambition to make the vessel greener and, in view of the intended shallow waters in which the vessel will travel, to stay within the limits of the maximum dimensions and draught. RV Wim Wolff has four crew members and can accommodate up to twelve scientists in six cabins. The ship has two permanent laboratories and large deck space.  

RV Adriaen Coenen 

RV Adriaen Coenen is the smallest vessel in the fleet. She operates around NIOZ and is mainly used for transporting scientists and samples between the NIOZ and the research areas in the Wadden Sea such as the Balgzand and the bird observatory at the island of Griend. 

Research topics 

Ocean Research (Ocean Chemistry and Biogeochemistry, Microbiology, Physical Oceanography); Coastal Research (Wadden Sea, Delta, North Sea, Birds) 

Running period 

2000 - undetermined 

Equipment 

The equipment and technical specification of the different research vessels can be found on the NIOZ website: 

RV Pelagia 

RV Wim Wolff

RV Adriaen Coenen 

Conditions for access 

More information about access to the National Research Fleet can be found on the NIOZ website: 

Access to NMF facilities.