Vessel Charter Services
Blue Planet Marine (BPM) has a number of charter/research vessels available to assist with your project. Whether you require a larger vessel for long-range, extended offshore work or a smaller vessel for nearshore and estuarine projects, BPM has a vessel to suit your needs. Ranging in size from 6 m to 23 m, all of our vessels are in current Australian survey and are available as either a bare-boat charter or with an experienced and qualified crew. Some of the activities we specialise in include:
Scientific research
Environmental monitoring
Crew transfer
Marine megafauna tagging and catching
Buoy and mooring deployment
Acoustic receiver deployment and monitoring
Dive operations support
Vessels
A summary of vessel specifications for the BPM fleet can be found in the downloadable PDF, with more detailed summaries for each vessel available on our website. If you have specific questions or requirements, please contact us directly.
Training & Crew
BPM personnel, including masters and crew, are fully certified and experienced seafarers. Due to BPM’s background in applied marine science, many of our crew also have specialised training and expertise in research and dive operations, large whale tagging, megafauna catching (e.g. turtles and dugongs), biopsy sampling, and acoustic hydrophone set up and deployment. All of our crew have excellent communication skills, are able to follow set protocols, and have a detailed understanding of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) issues and industry expectations.
Clients & Locations
BPM has provided vessel charter services since 2002, with clients from industry, government, universities, and NGOs. We’ve worked across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, with extensive experience in Australian waters and the South Pacific.
Quality, Safety & Environment
All BPM vessels have an approved safety management system (SMS) and we employ the use of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) to guide safe operations. All of BPM’s work is subject to our Quality, Safety and Environment (QSE) system, which is modelled on ISO 9001, AS/NZS 4801 and ISO 14001.
BPM – Vessel Specifications
| Vessel Name | Total Length (m) | Survey classification (Passengers + Crew) | Operating Limits (nm) | Motors (main + auxiliary) | Equipment and notes |
| Flying Fish V | 23 | 1B (20p + 3c) 1D (55p + 6c) 1E (75p + 6c) Accommodation for 23 overnight |
200 | 980 hp V12 MAN 2 X Yanmar 27 KVA 3 phase generators |
Two tenders Fully air-conditioned accommodation and wheelhouse Desalinator (1,000 L/day) 4.5 t blast freezer 2 x 2 t cool rooms 2 t/day ice maker Dive compressor Huge aft deck plus dive platform Hiab, pot hauler and cotton reel winch
|
| Phantom IV | 19 | 2B (13p + 2c) Accommodation for 7 overnight |
200 | 800 hp Doosan Single phase 20 KVA Zenith |
Two inflatables as auxiliary vessels Fully air-conditioned accommodation and wheelhouse Large rear deck Certified Hiab, A-frame and deck winch
|
| Koopa | 7 | 2C (9p +1c) | 30 | 2 X Suzuki 140 horsepower, 4 stroke engines |
Swift rigid-hulled inflatable The vessel is well set up for research, monitoring, survey and diving operations
|
| Coda | 6.4 | 2C (7p + 1c) | 30 | 2 X Yamaha 70 hp, 4 stroke engines |
Removable bowsprit (for whale and dolphin research) Prop guards available on request
|
| Beluga | 6 | 2C (5p +1c) | 15 | Yamaha 115 hp, 4 stroke engine |
Fitted with a removable, purpose-built bowsprit designed for satellite tagging of whales Prop guard available on request
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