R/V Atlantis II: Interesting conversion

For anyone willing to take on an interesting conversion project, the Research Vessel Atlantis II is on sealed bid auction. Moored in New Orleans, LA.

LOA 210 ft, Beam 44 ft
Currently crew + pax = 56

Interesting features:
- This ship discovered the Titanic (claim the auctioneers).
- A bulbous underwater observation chamber in the bow is equipped
with six viewing ports.
- Underwater lights for night work.
- Enclosed crows nest for daytime lookout.
- Is equipped with additional electric motors for silent power operations.

Go to http://pmi.vihn.net/auction/17466_TheRVAtlantisIISealedBidSale.asp and click on "Brochure" for more information.

Bruno
Naval Architect - Marine Surveyor

Kelly,

I have no idea of the state she's in (built 1962...), but as mp-willow points out, if I could afford it, I'd have her as a main vessel, not as a shadow yacht. Her basic structure is stylish enough to make her into a very goodlooking yacht (with a history).
I was more thinking along the lines of a Sherakhan conversion.
For a shadow boat, you can use a much cheaper cargo vessel.

Given also that's she's built SOLAS compliant (old SOLAS!), you're not limited to 12 guests. That's particularly interesting if you want to put her in charter business. There's not so many charter yachts available for groups of more than 12.

A lot depends of the state of her steelwork. If the corrosion allowance is mostly eaten, and you have to do a lot of steel replacement, it may not be worth the hassle.
In any case, it's a lot of work... The last complete refit was done in 1979.

Bruno

The last refit in '79 doesn't mean that she would be in a bad state. Most ships never get new main engines fitted in (but then again, they're scrapped after 25 years). As she's been under class she has been "refitted" (drydocked, sandblasted, coated, etc.) at least every five years like any other ship.
All the hotel systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, etc) will have to be replaced, but all the ship's systems (bilge piping, fuel systems, firefighting, etc.) may be good to go.

Depending on how good the tank coatings have been kept up, the steelwork can range from "as new" to "to be replaced at next drydock period".

Imagine spotting the whales from the crow's nest, then going down to the bulbous bow for an underwater look, all this while trolling on the supersilent electric motors...

Soon you'll all start thinking I get a commission for pimping this ship (which isn't true!!!), so I'd better leave it at that