Baía Farta

Baía Farta in Capetown

As we were in the care of Damen in March/ April 2023 they also had another of their build, the Baía Farta, research vessel in for a guarantee visit and I think a 5 year survey. The name is after a town in Angola and means 'Abundant Bay', probably it is good fishing there. 

Town of Baía Farta at the pin and Angola

Credit: Google maps

General specifications:

IMO number: 9813474
Vessel Name: Baía Farta
Flag/ registry: Angola/ Luanda
Ship Type: Research vessel (RV)
Year of Build: keel laid 09 Nov 2017, launched Oct 2018
Designer: Skipsteknisk, Norway
Builder: Damen, Galati, Romania, hull number 418

Class: By DNV-GL, +1A1- E(0) – SPS – COMF V(2) C(1) – SILENT-A/F/R – DPS2
Length Overall: 74.10 m
Beam: 16.56 m
Draught: 5.8 m
Depth: 8.70 m

DWT: 950 t
Gross Tonnage: 3208

Propulsion: diesel electric, 2 x AC electric motors, each 1,650 kW @ 180 rpm
Gensets: 2 x 1,710 kW/690V; 1,140 kW/690V
Range: 9000' at 13 kts
Crew/ Scientists: 29/ 22 persons
Owner: Ministry of Fisheries, Angola

Baía Farta in Cape Town

Bridge of Baía Farta

I was invited to go and have a look at her as our Director onboard kept Damen 'warm' with further talks of a possible newbuild in the near future for Arctic waters. She hadn't been used properly in 'anger' yet and they still had some guarantee issues to solve after so many years. Onboard there was a Portuguese Captain who showed us around, we got a mast to keel excursion, she really had good equipment and machinery installed and was well designed for all kind of marine research. She even has a sensor keel that when lowered increases her draft to nearly 10m. The bridge was a full Kongsberg with DP2 system (dynamic positioning). After 4 years she still looked brand new (obviously). For such a small vessel there was plenty of space in her 3200GT and she probably more than enough has the means to fulfil her purpose, just goes to show how much the yachts are wasting good space with the less than 3000GT hulls that are almost 100m and sport small superstructures with open decks when they could easily go much bulkier but that would mean going over 3000GT which requires one to use commercial crews with the requisite certificates.

Aft deck was full of lifting gear

Baird Maritime has also published a good review of Baía Farta with going into the nitty gritty about her outfitting. There is more equipment than you could shake a stick at.

Baía Farta fwd

After this drydocking the Verangola came out with a statement on 1st Oct 2024 stating the following. 

"The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources explains, in a statement cited by Angop, that the ship was stopped to repair anomalies in its winch systems, adding that, after all tests were carried out, the vessel is operational.

All sea trials were carried out in South Africa, the country where the ship was repaired, and in Angola, ensuring that the equipment that was repaired is operational under the warranty of the ship's construction company, DAMEN Shipyard", the ministry said."

So it appears she's now ready and "fit for fight" so to speak.

Baía Farta aft

I also came across her in the media that she's enroute to attend the UN Ocean Conference in Nice 2025. It seems this is her first mission so to speak and coincidentally falls into the time I was writing this as her ETA to Nice, FR seems to be set at publishing this post. Looking at marinetraffic she's sitting stopped in open waters, basically already arrived. Maybe they are trialing her equipment or something.

Baía Farta off the French coast on 31st May 2025

Credit: Marinetraffic

"The oceanographic vessel Baía Farta has departed from Luanda’s Fishing Port bound for Nice, France, to represent Angola at the Third United Nations Conference on the Ocean (UNOC-3), to be held from June 9 to 13, marking a significant milestone for the country’s marine science capabilities.

The ship’s participation in one of the world’s most important ocean forums underscores Angola’s commitment to marine conservation and the blue economy, representing a significant step forward in the nation’s scientific diplomacy.

The mission highlights collaborative efforts between Angola’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the National Institute for Fisheries and Marine Research (INIPM). As a member of the AIR Centre Network, INIPM brings enhanced scientific expertise and international collaboration experience to the conference. During the event, it will present findings from maritime research campaigns, demonstrating the crucial role of scientific investigation in responsible marine resource management.

Angola’s participation reinforces the country’s alignment with the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) – “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.” The mission serves to showcase Angola’s scientific capacity, facilitate knowledge exchange with international partners, and strengthen the nation’s position in global ocean governance. It opens doors for potential collaborations with maritime nations and research institutions, leading to joint projects and capacity-building initiatives.

As an emerging economy taking an active role in addressing environmental challenges, Angola’s participation is both significant and strategically important for the country’s long-term marine development goals."

Very good show from Angola! I hope the conference will go well.

Baía Farta in Valletta, Malta, 2018

Credit: Emmanuel L (shipspotting)

Baía Farta in the Black Sea, 2018

Credit: Coen de Jong (marinetraffic)