NI Mar Portugal facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" |
|} NI Mário Ruivo is a special ship that helps scientists study the ocean. It's like a floating laboratory! This ship has had a few different names over the years. It used to be called NI Mar Portugal. Today, it is a research vessel for the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
Contents
- Its First Job: RMAS Salmaid
- Working for Serco Denholm
- Becoming Kommandor Calum
- Its Current Role: NI Mário Ruivo
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | RMAS Salmaid (A187) |
| Operator | RMAS |
| Builder | Hall, Russell & Company |
| In service | 1986 |
| Out of service | 2009 |
| Fate | Transferred to Serco Denholm |
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | SD Salmaid |
| Operator | Serco Denholm |
| In service | 2009 |
| Out of service | 2012 |
| Fate | Transferred to Hays Ships |
| United Kingdom |
|
| Name | Kommandor Calum |
| Operator | Hays Ships |
| Acquired | 2012 |
| In service | 2013 |
| Out of service | 2017 |
| Homeport | Leith |
| Fate | Transferred to IPMA Portugal |
 Portugal |
|
| Name | NI Mário Ruivo |
| Owner | Portuguese Government |
| Operator | IPMA |
| Acquired | 2017 |
| Homeport | Lisbon |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Research and Survey |
| Displacement | 2,290 tonnes |
| Length | 77 metres (253 ft) |
| Beam | 15 metres (49 ft) |
| Draught | 4 metres (13 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 diesels, 1 shaft, 4,000 bhp |
| Speed | 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 19 |
The Ship's Story
NI Mário Ruivo has a long and interesting history. It was first built in 1986 by a company called Hall, Russell & Company.
Its First Job: RMAS Salmaid
When it was new, the ship was named RMAS Salmaid (A187). It worked for the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service in the United Kingdom. This service helps the Royal Navy with important tasks. The Salmaid was a "mooring and salvage vessel." This means it helped set up and take care of underwater anchors and buoys. It also helped rescue things from the sea. Its sister ship was the RMAS Salmoor (A185).
Working for Serco Denholm
Later, in 2009, the ship changed operators. It was then managed by a company called Serco Denholm. During this time, its name became SD Salmaid. It continued its important work at sea.
Becoming Kommandor Calum
In 2012, the ship was bought by a Scottish company called Hays Ships. It was then renamed Kommandor Calum. Before starting its new job, the ship had a lot of work done on it at a shipyard in Poland. It served with Hays Ships until 2017.
Its Current Role: NI Mário Ruivo
In 2017, Portugal acquired the ship. It was given its current name, NI Mário Ruivo. Now, it is operated by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA). Its main job is to help with oceanographic research in the Atlantic ocean. This means scientists use it to study the ocean, its creatures, and its environment.
Ship Details and Features
The NI Mário Ruivo is a large and powerful ship. It is designed for research and survey missions.
Size and Speed
The ship weighs about 2,290 tonnes. It is 77 meters (about 253 feet) long and 15 meters (about 49 feet) wide. It can travel at a speed of 15 knots, which is about 28 kilometers per hour (17 miles per hour).
Crew and Power
The ship has a crew of 19 people. It is powered by two diesel engines. These engines provide 4,000 horsepower to move the ship through the water.
What It Does
In its early days, the ship's tasks included placing and maintaining underwater targets. It also helped with navigation marks and moorings. Today, as a research vessel, it helps scientists explore the ocean.
