LHT "Astrolabio" (A-91)

Displacement: 8,5 Tn. (Max. Displacement 12 Tn)

Length:12,70 m.

Width:4,2 m.

Draft:1 m.

Max. Speed:25 Knots.

Propulsion:

Endurance:220 miles.

Crew:1 Officer / 3 NCO. / 1 Leading rating / 1 Rating

Sensors:EM 2040 Sounder.

The Hydrographic survey boat ‘ASTROLABIO’ was commissioned in November 2001 with serial number A-91 and homeported in Puntales Naval Station.

In December 2002, the survey boat was fitted with a multi-beam sounding system like the oceanographic research ship ‘HESPÉRIDES’. They are the only two vessels with capability to conduct hydrographic surveys covering the whole seabed.

In the year 2003 the craft was assigned to the Hydrographic Institute of the Spanish Navy.

Its main mission is to conduct hydrographic surveys in ports, approaches and anchorages. In addition, the vessel can also carry out the following missions:

• Search and pinpoint wreckages and underwater pipelines.
• Examine and check nautical charts, sea lines, annual directories of tides, lighthouses’ books, coast lines, buoys positioning, and any other hydrographic control issues.
• Installation of tide gauges to determine the hydrographic zero.
• Collection of data related to port communications, pilotage, shipping control devices, wreckages, submarine emissions and fish farms.