JOIDES RESOLUTION

JOIDES RESOLUTION (IMO: 7423081) sailing under the Cyprus flag. It has an overall length of 469 feets and a beam of 69 feets.

Vessel Identification

• MMSI: 209489000
• IMO Number: 7423081
• Call Sign: 5BMM3
• Flag State: Cyprus
• Vessel Type: Research Vessel
• Official Use: Scientific Drilling Vessel

Specifications

• Gross Tonnage: 16,119 GT
• Length Overall: 143 meters
• Beam: 21 meters
• Draft: 8.2 meters
• Displacement: 18,527 tonnes
• Derrick Height: 62 meters (above waterline)
• Drilling Depth Capacity: Up to 2,100 meters below seafloor
• Water Depth Capability: Up to 8,235 meters
• Helipad: Yes

Propulsion

• Propulsion Type: Diesel-Electric
• Dynamic Positioning: DP Class 2
• Thrusters: Multiple azimuth thrusters and bow thrusters
• Total Power Output: Approximately 12,000 kW

Shipyard

• Builder: Levingston Shipbuilding Company
• Build Location: Orange, Texas, United States
• Year Built: 1978
• Original Name: Sedco/BP 471 (as a drilling vessel, converted to research vessel)
• Conversion Year: 1984

Owner / Operator

• Registered Owner: Texas A&M University (on behalf of the US National Science Foundation)
• Technical Operator: SIEM Offshore (vessel management contract)
• Program Operator: United States Science Support Program (USSSP)
• Funded By: International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), successor to the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) and Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP)

Navigation / Communications Equipment

• Navigation Systems: Integrated GPS and DGPS positioning systems
• Dynamic Positioning System: Kongsberg DP system supporting DP2 classification
• Echo Sounders: Multi-beam and single-beam echo sounding systems
• Radar: Multiple marine radar systems
• Satellite Communications: VSAT, Inmarsat systems
• GMDSS: Equipped and certified
• AIS: Class A Transponder

Operating Region

• Primary Region: Global ocean operations
• Notable Regions: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic and Antarctic waters
• Port of Registry: Limassol, Cyprus
• Home Port Operations: Managed through Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

Vessel Description

The JOIDES Resolution is one of the world's premier scientific ocean drilling vessels, operating under the International Ocean Discovery Program. The name JOIDES stands for Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling. Originally constructed as a commercial drilling vessel, the ship was extensively refurbished and converted for scientific research purposes in 1984 and underwent a major refit and upgrade between 2007 and 2009, significantly modernizing its laboratory facilities and scientific capabilities.

The vessel is equipped with approximately 9,300 square meters of laboratory space distributed across multiple decks, hosting state-of-the-art core analysis laboratories, geochemistry labs, paleontology facilities, and physical properties laboratories. Its centerpiece is a 62-meter derrick capable of deploying drill strings to recover sediment and rock cores from the ocean floor.

The ship accommodates approximately 125 personnel, including scientists, technicians, and crew, and typically operates on two-month scientific expeditions. Since entering service with scientific ocean drilling programs, the JOIDES Resolution has drilled at more than 1,800 sites across all the world's ocean basins, contributing fundamental discoveries in plate tectonics, paleoclimatology, geomicrobiology, and deep-earth sciences.