The Scientific Research High Council has started building a new research vessel for the Spanish Institution of Oceanography, the IEO-CSIC, named to honor its founder, Odón de Buen. Almost 85 meters in length and about 18 meters wide, it stands as the largest oceanographic research vessel in Spain’s fleet. Odón de Buen is outfitted with cutting edge technology to enable exploration of ecosystems, habitats, and seafloor regions across every ocean, including polar zones, reaching depths beyond 6,000 meters.
Recently, Science and Innovation Minister Diana Morant visited the Armón shipyard in Vigo with IEO-CSIC director Javier Ruiz to inspect the ongoing construction of this multipurpose vessel. Intended to be the flagship of Spain’s science fleet, the ship will be named after Odón de Buen, the founder of the IEO and a pioneer of European oceanography.
The project carries an approximate investment of 85 million euros, with around 80 percent financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The vessel is expected to be completed in under three years. When finished, Odón de Buen will be Spain’s largest oceanographic ship, measuring 84.3 meters in length and 17.8 meters in width. It will accommodate 58 passengers and will boast an endurance of roughly 50 days at sea.
The ship is being designed to operate quietly, a key feature for minimizing disturbance to marine life during observations and while deploying scientific echo sounders. The project also prioritizes environmental protection with advanced systems to prevent fuel spills, curb atmospheric emissions, and operate with gas-fueled propulsion where possible.
Its scientific equipment ranks among the most advanced available, supporting seabed studies and echo-sounder work for fisheries, as well as unmanned, remotely operated, and autonomous vehicles. The vessel will house sampling systems, preparation areas, and a 500 square meter laboratory, all essential for high-end marine research.
With substantial onboard storage and container handling capacity, Odón de Buen will offer enhanced logistical support. This capability enables it to serve as a mobile exchange platform with Antarctic bases while carrying out research in the Southern Hemisphere.
Avant-garde Spanish oceanography
The IEO has advanced work on marine protected areas and sensitive habitats in recent years, contributing to Spain’s pledge to protect more than 10 percent of its marine environments. Odón de Buen will strengthen these efforts by enabling exploration of the seafloor at depths up to 6,000 meters and by covering all waters under Spain’s jurisdiction.
Moreover, its capabilities will allow these surveys to extend into international waters at any latitude, aligning with global commitments to protect marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries.
The IEO’s experience is grounded in the work conducted aboard its oceanographic research ships, including Ángeles Alvariño and Ramón Margalef. These vessels, built with Spanish design and technology a little over a decade ago, have established a model for international marine research. They also showcase how strategic investment in science can reinforce the industrial fabric, even in fields where the connections are not always obvious, such as the study of marine biodiversity.
Javier Ruiz notes that the successful design of these ships has helped Spain become a leading shipbuilder in Europe and a notable international supplier of science-enabled vessels. This is a clear example of how public investment in science can yield tangible benefits for industry and knowledge alike.
Odón de Buen, founder of the IEO
Odón de Buen y del Cos, born in Zuera, Zaragoza, in 1863, is remembered as a key promoter of oceanography in Spain and a pioneer of the discipline in Europe. After earning a degree in natural sciences from the University of Madrid in 1885, he joined a voyage on the frigate Blanca across northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa, marking the start of his oceanographic career.
He later occupied the Chair of Zoology at the University of Barcelona in 1889, where he reformed science teaching and introduced Darwinian evolution concepts to Spain. A few years later, in 1906, he established the Marine Biology Laboratory in Porto Pi (Mallorca) and a similar facility in Malaga. These laboratories, along with the Santander Biological Station, supported the founding of the Spanish Institution of Oceanography in 1914 and significantly boosted marine research in the country.
He went into exile in Mexico in 1942 and passed away in 1945 at the age of 82. In 2003, his remains were brought back to Spain, specifically to his hometown.
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