MV Odyssey (formerly Alucia) is a 56-meter research and exploration vessel that facilitates a wide range of diving, submersible and aerial operations.[1] The ship has recently been used by OCEEF,[2] under the name Alucia and was previously utilized by initiative OceanX for ocean exploration, research and filming missions.[3] She is now on Charter to the InkFish group and going into refit shortly.
Odyssey was built as a heavy lift ship with a launch platform for diving and submersible operations in 1974 in Auroux, France as the RV Nadir. In 1984 it was purchased by the French oceanographic institute IFREMER and in 2004 by DeepOcean Quest.[4] It was subsequently purchased by Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio to support and facilitate ocean exploration and research.[5] In 2012, Mark Dalio founded Alucia Productions (now OceanX Media) to film and chronicle ocean exploration and research missions aboard the Alucia.[6]
Odyssey has two submarines, the Triton Submarines 3300/3 (named Nadir) and the Deep Rover 2, both rated for a maximum depth of 1000m (3,000feet).[7] The ship also has an A-star helicopter and helipad; dry and wet science labs; 8K Red cameras, low-light submersible cameras and custom underwater camera housings; and a media room.
Notable missions aboard Odyssey have included: