New configuration

In the AML hangar in Lorient, the crew and workers are busy on the boat. After spending many months deconstructing, cleaning, thinking, purchasing materials, making choices, etc. , the reconstruction phase gives great energy to the site.

The ex PARATII 2 was a family expedition sailboat designed to accommodate 8 people. Now, FOREL is becoming a scientific expedition sailboat for 12 people. To achieve this transformation, several modifications are necessary.

On FOREL, there are now two distinct spaces: a living space and a science space.

• The living space is changing

The previous square in the center of the sailboat was made up of a large high table. In order to ensure comfort for all and a spirit of conviviality, a second table has been added. To go from 8 to 12 beds, it was also necessary to add bunks.
Thus, a new space was created: the “dormitory” room located at the front of the ship. The dormitory is made up of two double cabins to port (already present on PARATII 2) and four new “Breton beds” (coffin bed, cabins without partition) to starboard. Close to the saloon, a frame bunk was also added in a cabin and new partitions were created to create a new captain's cabin.

Addition to starboard of four Breton beds in the "dormitory".

• A new science space

The rear part of the sailboat is now dedicated to science.
The scientific sailboat FOREL will be equipped with a wet laboratory for handling samples (water, organisms, sediments, etc.), a dry laboratory for atmospheric instrumentation and data storage, and a clean laboratory for handling sensitive samples. These laboratories dedicated to experimentation will allow scientists to carry out their research in order to understand human disturbances in polar and subpolar environments.

Creation of the walls of the wet lab, located at the back in the science area.

Thus, the bathroom with sauna previously installed on PARATII 2 becomes a dry laboratory, the port aft cabin becomes the technical room with one of the two FOREL generators. Then several rooms were added to the large space which previously served as a garage: the wet laboratory, the clean laboratory, the airlock and a workshop.
This large-scale project required numerous modifications from every point of view: electricity, plumbing, scientific instruments, re-motorization, new arrangements, etc.

Thanks to a motivated team, FOREL is getting closer every day to its objective: to become a scientific platform adapted to polar and subpolar coastal zones.