About
Cú Lir provides a stable and safe platform for conducting coastal scientific research in some of the planet’s most difficult to reach places.Its 17-metre aluminium hull is reinforced for ice navigation and built to navigate through less than 1 meter of shallow water making it exceptionally versatile.
Cú Lir is equipped to enable researchers to conduct a wide range of expeditions, from oceanography and marine biology to climate change impacts and conservation efforts. Its ultra high-speed data processing and transmission will facilitate real-time collection and analysis of large datasets in remote locations.
Its hybrid propulsion system combines traditional sailing with modern motor technology, minimizing its environmental footprint, while ensuring reliability in demanding conditions. Cú Lir, which is available for charter, will carry a highly qualified crew of three and will accommodate a scientific team of up to seven members.
The concept behind the Cú Lir project is that a small research vessel can be very capable as well as being very safe, technologically advanced, low carbon and having significant endurance.
Cú Lir is a project of Orca Research Ltd, a private Irish company. The Cú Lir name was suggested by Tomás Ó hAodha, an Irish language scholar from south west Ireland. It is derived from ancient Irish mythology and in one sense means ‘champion of the sea’, in another the ‘protective hound of the sea god Lir’.
Th Cú Lir design is by yacht designer Ed Joy of Maine and his 2D design was converted to a full 3D model and further developed by Anthony O’Reilly of Derry Connell Marine of Schull, Co. Cork in conjunction with the hull constructors KM Yachts of Makkum NL. This has resulted in further improvements to an already excellent design.
Cú Lir is now on the water and in the final stages of testing and commissioning. We envisage an extended period of shakedown during 2025.
Cú Lir will carry high capability features and equipment for the size of vessel including:
- Ice strengthened aluminium hull
- Redundancy in propulsion – sail, diesel, electric, diesel/electric
- Silent running with electric only
- 3000 NM range with diesel alone
- Highly insulated hull
- Ample cabin heating, fresh water and hot water
- No propane carried on board
- High capacity water maker
- 3 independent generators on board
- Over 100 kWh of battery capacity
- Dynamic positioning (no rating) using electric drive for main prop, one bow thruster and 2 stern thrusters
- Protected prop and rudder
- High-spec anchor system
- Swing centreboard and rudder for safety in poorly charted waters
- Ability to enter sheltered waters of less than 1m depth and to beach where necessary
- 2 tonne capacity LARS via hydraulically operated A-frame
- 1 tonne oceanographic winch with auto-render
- Up to 600v AC/DC electric supply for mROV operations
- Areas 1-4 GMDSS
- Best in class comms via multiple satellite systems as well as HF/VHF
- Dive lift
- Ample freezer capacity
- 2 capable tenders, one Hypalon, one aluminium
- Ample exterior and interior lab space
- Potential for 3 separate labs below decks, depending on passenger numbers
- Seawater sampling possible from the interior of the boat
- Full international certification
Contractors for the build include:
- Ed Joy Yacht Design
- Baumuller GmbH
- KM Yachts, Makkum NL
- International Paints
- Mast and Rigging Ltd
The carbon load of research vessels is a major concern for research institutes. Cú Lir will be capable of many of the tasks that a much larger research vessel might be capable of but at a small fraction of the construction and operational carbon costs.
Cú Lir offers a capable and comfortable platform for science research, particularly for accessing remote areas at high latitudes in a safe and flexible way and will be available to research institutes and others for charter, and for some pro bono work. The vessel will carry a highly qualified crew of three and a science party (if required) of up to seven. Expressions of interest are welcome at [email protected].
