The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST, President Lee Hyi Seung) announced on November 26 that it will hold a decommissioning ceremony for the research vessel (RV) Eardo on the pier of KIOST's South Sea Research Institute (located in Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si).

The ceremony will be attended by KIOST President Lee Hyi Seung, Captain Jin Seong-il, his crew and KIOST staff to celebrate the retirement of Eardo, which has journeyed over 680,000 kilometers in the almost 33 years (6,894 days) since its launch in March 1992. On its final mission, the RV Eardo was deployed to assist in the search for vessel 135 Geumseong, which sank off Jejudo Island on November 8.

The Eardo* has contributed to the development of marine science in Korea by navigating the nation’s coasts and local waters and deploying on a variety of marine research projects, such as exploring the ocean circulation climate, surveying ocean current characteristics, and engaging in environmental surveys of maritime defense operation waters.

* International gross tonnage: 357t / Launched: March 1992 / Capacity: 32 passengers / Equipped with observation devices such as side-scan sonar and multiple acoustic sounders

Initially built to be the mothership of the manned submersible Haeyang 250 and as a research vessel for offshore waters, it opened the horizon for Korea through deep-sea and ocean exploration. It was deployed as part of the “Ocean Characteristics Survey Project” and the “Drafting and Research of Comprehensive Marine Environment Map of Korean Waters” project planned with the Navy, providing the data necessary for marine development and use of the waters around the Korean Peninsula.

Since its inauguration, the Eardo has expanded its research scope not only to Korea’s offshore waters but also into the waters of other nations. In 1992, it supported Korea’s first overseas marine technology service project in the waters of the Philippines, the “Marine Survey for the Construction of Undersea Power Cable between Cebu Island and Negros Island in the Philippines.” In 1998, it was utilized by Korean marine scientists to conduct marine surveys off the coast of Kumho District in North Korea for the first time since division of the Korean Peninsula.

In addition, it was deployed when our marine scientists were dispatched to the scene of national maritime incidents, such as the Hebei Spirit oil spill in 2007, the Cheonan navy corvette sinking in 2010, and the Sewol ferry accident in 2014, to thoroughly observe marine conditions and provide scientific data for recovery. In 2019, it discovered a sunken ship believed to be the vessel, Haegyeong 72, off Geojin, Goseong-gun.

After its retirement, the missions carried out by the Eardo will be taken over by the cutting-edge RV Eardo 2, which is currently under construction and slated to enter service in the first half of 2025.

With an international gross tonnage of 732 tonnes and a maximum speed of 13.5 knots (approximately 25 km/h), the new vessel will have significantly improved research capabilities and scope. Eardo 2 will be propelled by the Azimuth Thruster system, which allows the research vessel to change direction freely, and will be equipped with a total of 34 types* of advanced equipment, compared to the 20 types of research equipment on the original Eardo, enabling research that is more precise and more extensive.

* Additional observation equipment such as a Multibeam Echosounder for Shallow Water (precise analysis of seabed topography in shallow waters) and the Underway Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) System (real-time measurement of water temperature, salinity, and depth during voyages)

“The Eardo’s time dedicated to research is equivalent to the history of marine science in Korea,” said KIOST President, Lee Hyi Seung. “Research vessels are the foundation of competitiveness in ocean exploration. We will build on the research achievements and experience accumulated by Eardo and proceed effectively with the construction of Eardo 2, which is scheduled to enter service next year.”