On Saturday 14 March the famous research vessel "Marion-Dufresne-II" arrived at the DAMEN ship repair yard in Dunkirk for an upgrade of its scientific instruments and a major overhaul of its hull and engines.
Owned by CMA CGM and chartered by the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF), the "Marion-Dufresne-II" is one of the jewels of the French oceanographic fleet. Built in Le Havre in 1995, 120.50 metres long and with a draught of 6.95 metres, this ship has a crew of 50 and can carry up to 110 passengers. Boasting 650 m² of laboratory space, a multi-beam echo sounder, a sediment corer and winching systems, the "Marion-Dufresne-II" conducts oceanographic research under the auspices of the Institut Polaire Paul-Emile Victor and provides logistics services in the French Sub-Antarctic islands under the responsibility of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (carrying residents and visitors to the Southern Territories, carrying personnel to and from the bases, transporting containers and heavy lifts, etc). This extremely versatile ship is also a helicopter carrier and a tanker.