Mirabilis

The "Mirabilis" ran aground on the south coast of Angola on Oct 27, 2012, during an annual cross-boundary sardine survey. The vessel was expected to arrive at Walvis Bay on Oct 31 where damage was to be assessed. None of the 17 crew members sustained injuries during the incident. They include about seven scientists from the National Marine Information and Research Centre (NATMIRC) in Swakopmund. The ship conducting acoustic surveys of sardine stock – which is a cross-boundary stock – when it allegedly hit a sandbank. The area was speculated to have been at Tiger Bay to the far south of Angola. The Namibian patrol vessel "Anna Kakurukaze" was in the area and was summoned to assist with the recovery of the ship, but Namibian and Angolan fishing vessels may have refloated the research vessel before the "Anna Kakurukaze" reached the scene.

Namibia has a brand-new research vessel, the €35-million RV Mirabilis, which will operate as a floating fish stock research station. Built in Finland, it has been officially handed over to the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR). The building of the new ship was commissioned in March last year, with production beginning at STX Finland’s Rauma Shipyard in August. The RV Mirabilis measures 62 m in length and provides accommodation for 44 crew members and research personnel. The vessel was expected to arrive in Namibia at the end of July.

STX Finland's Rauma Shipyard on June 28, 2012 has celebrated the flag-changing ceremony of a specialised vessel built for the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Republic of Namibia and classed by Bureau Veritas. The RV Mirabilis is 62.4m long and 14.3m wide, and duties will include monitoring of fish stock, sorting, processing, freezing and storage of fish, collecting biological samples from the seabed and water quality research and analysis, as well as assistance with fishery control. http://www.motorship.com/news101/namibian-research-vessel-delivered