SeaFest 2018 | Tour the Marine Institute’s Research Vessel Celtic Explorer

SeaFest takes places next weekend in Galway (Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July) and there will be a huge range of things to do and see but for the marine scientist in the family, there is one thing you absolutely must check out.

It’s the RV Celtic Explorer – one of the Marine Institute‘s key research vessels. The festival provides a fantastic opportunity to step aboard this vessel and get an insiders view on the life of a marine scientist at sea.

SeaFest 2018 Marine Institute Research Vessel Celtic Explorer

Tour the Celtic Explorer at SeaFest in Galway (Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July)

It may surprise you to hear that the very people who organise SeaFest, one of the largest maritime festivals in Europe, are one and the same people who by day are the mild mannered scientists of the Marine institute – and the Celtic Explorer is one of the two large vessels they use to conduct scientific research.

Coming into service in 2003, the Celtic Explorer is a multi-purpose research vessel used in a wide range of marine science including fisheries research, oceanographic, hydrographic and geological investigations and seabed mapping.

SeaFest 2018 Marine Institute Research Vessel Celtic Explorer

Celtic Explorer 65.5m long and can accommodate 35 personnel at sea and a festival load of curious visitors on land.

At SeaFest you can tour the RV Celtic Explorer and speak to scientists about the research that is undertaken on board and see some of the marine species they have come in contact with through their work.

RV Celtic Explorer Check out the main deck!

You’ll also get to see where the scientists sleep, eat and socialise while on board and will get to meet the vessel’s master and crew.

Scientists as Sea Some of the many species that are studied onboard

So for the budding marine scientist, a tour of the Celtic Explorer at SeaFest next weekend is an absolute must.

SeaFest 2018 Marine Institute Research Vessel Celtic Explorer

Celtic Explorer at SeaFest in Galway next weekend (Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July)

The RV Celtic Explorer will be open for tours from 2pm – 6pm on Friday, and 10am – 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.

About the Author

Daniel Farrell
Interested in all things on the Irish coast and sharing the best of it. // Email: Daniel@coastmonkey.ie // Follow on Twitter: @DanielsSeaViews