Tallinn University of Technology to Retire Research Vessel Salme
Estonia's Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) is retiring its research vessel Salme after two decades of service. A send-off ceremony is planned for 12 October at the Lennusadam harbour.
Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in Estonia is retiring its research vessel Salme after twenty years of service. According to the university's press office, a ceremony to send the ship into well-earned retirement will be held on 12 October at the Seaplane Harbour (given in the Russian source as "Летная гавань").
Research and monitoring
Scientific studies aboard Salme were carried out under projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Research, the Estonian Research Council, the Environmental Investment Centre and other organisations.
Beyond research, the vessel played an important part in the state's marine environment monitoring. Environmental monitoring in the open sea was conducted six times a year. On a single voyage the ship visited all sub-basins of the Baltic Sea around Estonia, covering more than 1,000 kilometres. For the past 12 years Salme had also been used in Latvia's marine environment monitoring programme.
Rivo Uiboupuu, director of TalTech's Institute of Marine Systems and a professor, said that alongside modern digital technology and remote monitoring, sampling and analyses carried out on research vessels remain important. In his words, reliable open-sea monitoring and environmental research will continue to require vessels that allow dependable measurements and analyses.
History of the vessel
In 2019, TalTech was prepared to sell Salme if the university did not receive state funds for its upkeep. The university bought the Danish-built fishing vessel in 2006. After conversion, it was used in research projects from 2009.
