American residents have been invited to select from six names for the expedition yacht ALUCIA 2, which is set to take part in a six episode ocean documentary series to air on the National Geographic Channel. BBC Studios and James Cameron are also taking part in the series alongside Dalio Philanthropies’ OceanX.
Explorer vessel ALUCIA 2
Eligible voters were given a choice of traditional and contemporary names to select from, with ‘Audacious’ and ‘OceanXplorer’ among the selection.
The 85.3m/279.8ft explorer yacht is currently being rebuilt in Rotterdam and will be deployed a marine research vessel in continuation of the scientific data currently being collected by predecessor M/Y ALUCIA. Starting life in 2010 at Spanish Freire Shipyard, she operated in and around Norwegian waters as a deep sea survey vessel as VOLSTAD SURVEYOR before her current Owner bought her and modernised her with the help of British studio Gresham Yacht Design.
Once completed, she will be the most advanced purposely designed research and media vessel on the water, created by some of the most experienced expedition mariners and design studios. Cutting-edge technology is installed on board so that discoveries can be analysed in the wet and dry labs and filmed for a worldwide audience in ultra HD.
Other on board features include a foredeck helipad with hangar and a 40-tonne A-frame for the launch and retrieval of tenders and other vehicles, such as two submersibles capable of reaching depths of 914m/3,000ft.
The US premiere for the latest Mission OceanX series is scheduled for the 2nd of September.
