L'ATLANTA research vessel 1990

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aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

L'ATLANTA research vessel 1990

Post by aukepalmhof » Wed Jan 19, 2011 8:23 pm

Approximately 90km WSW of the Pitcairn Islands a number of submarine volcanoes have been discovered on the over-30-million-year-old Pacific Ocean crust, at around 25 degrees 10’S, 129 degrees 20’W. Also known as Seamounts or Hotspots, the three largest are 1,500 – 3,000M in height and have been given the names Adams, Bounty and Christian. More than 100 submarine volcanoes exist with 20 small volcanic hills or eruptive vents reaching 500M in height. These have been located within the area of study which has a radius of 110km, with Bounty and Adams being 25km apart.

Formed by successive eruptions of lava, the volcanoes have proved of immense interest to scientists and geologists, as well as to the people of Pitcairn with the largest hotspot, Adams, rising to 3,500M and coming within 39M of the surface. The Bounty seamount rises to within 450M of the surface and appears morphologically more youthful (350,000 years) than Adams with water samples indicating continuing hydrothermal activity.

The French company Ifremer, have used two dedicated ships R.V. L’Atalante and R.V. Nadir and recently completed 15 dives with the submersible Nautile making observations and sampling volcanic structures on the ancient ocean crust of the Farallon Plate, at depths of 3,500 – 4,300M. Their work uncovered evidence that the seamounts were formed by successive eruptions of highly vesicular, alkaline lava flows. Evidence of lava tubes, hydrothermal springs, trachytic lava flows and deposits of iron silicide hydroxides (on Bounty’s peak), have also been found.

The vessel depict on the 80c and $1.20 is the research vessel L’ATALANTE.

Built as research vessel under yard No278 by At & Ch Du Havre, Le Havre for the France Government Ifremer.
12 December 1989 launched as the L’ATALANTE.
Tonnage 3,559 grt, 1,067 net, 1,120 dwt., dim. 84.6 x 15.85 x 11.0m., draught 5.04m, length bpp. 76.95m.
Powered diesel electric by 3 diesel engines/alternators Duvant Crepelle, 2,718 hp. (2000 kW), twin shafts, speed 12.5 knots.
Bunker capacity 580 m³. Fresh water 261 m³.
Cargo handling by one 10 ton crane and a 22 ton stern A frame for the launching and retrieving of the submersible NAUTILE.
.
Accommodation for 17-30 depending on type of mission, maximum 33 with a accommodation container.
20 September 1990 completed. Homeport Brest.

After completing managed by Genavir.

2017 In service, same name and owner IMO No. 8716071

Pitcairn Islands 2010 80c sg?, scott? and $1.20 sg?, scott?

Source: Bureau Veritas. Wikipedia and Pitcarin Islands Post web-site.
Attachments
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Atalante_Tahiti.jpg
Last edited by aukepalmhof on Thu Mar 09, 2017 11:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
Posts: 871
Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:46 pm

Re: L'ATLANTA research vessel 1990

Post by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen » Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:52 pm

L'ATALANTE
(Nouvelle Caledonie 1994, 120 Fr. StG.1014)
Attachments
l atalante.jpg

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