These systems will allow the Odón de Buen – named after the founder of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography – to carry out silent navigation, essential for observing the ocean and working with scientific echo sounders, as well as producing low CO2 emissions to try to cause the minimum impact and alteration to marine organisms.
Ingeteam is manufacturing the electric motors and power converters for the ship's main and tunnel propulsion systems. In total, this involves six motors and six converters of varying power outputs, which will enable a reduction in emissions. Ingeteam will also supply the propulsion control system for the vessel, which will contribute to the efficiency of both the main and auxiliary propulsion systems.
The technological solutions that Ingeteam will develop for this ship will contribute to making it possible to study for the first time the ecosystems, habitats and seabeds in all the world's oceans, including polar areas, at depths greater than 6000 meters.
This flagship vessel, measuring 85 meters in length and 18 meters in beam, will have a 50-day endurance and will house a 500-square-meter laboratory. With an investment of nearly €85 million, it is currently under construction at the Armón Vigo Shipyard and will begin operations in 2025, marking a new milestone in the strong partnership between the two companies to lead the oceanographic market worldwide. The Odon de Buen is also designed with a clear global and multipurpose focus, enabling the diversification of projects in areas such as marine biology, geology, and fisheries, among others.
Among the company's recent contributions to the marine research sector is, for example, the supply of equipment for the research vessel Vizconde de Eza, a ship with a long history of over 100 research campaigns, for which Ingeteam carried out a sophisticated upgrade of its power converters and propulsion motors. In addition, a dynamic positioning system was incorporated, allowing it to remain stationary without changing its position, thus obtaining more precise observational data, even in adverse weather conditions.
Regarding international initiatives, projects such as the Norwegian research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen stand out. Its electric propulsion system significantly increases efficiency compared to traditional diesel. This system also provides a high level of reliability, as each electric motor is powered by its own converter, offering flexibility in equipment layout, ease of maintenance, and minimal environmental impact.
