French ship Pourquoi Pas? (2005)

Pourquoi Pas ? in Brest after her delivery
History
France
NamesakePourquoi Pas ? IV
Launched14 October 2004
Identification
StatusActive as of 2025
General characteristics
Class & typeresearch vessel
Displacement6600 tonnes
Length107 m (351 ft)
Beam20 m (66 ft)
Draught6.9 m (23 ft)
PropulsionDiesel-electric with a Class II dynamic positioning system.
Speed14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph)
Endurance64 days at 11 knots
Boats & landing
craft carried
ROV
Capacity1000 m² laboratory, 40 scientists
Complement18 to 33 men
Sensors &
processing systems

Pourquoi Pas ? (English: Why Not?) is a research vessel built in Saint-Nazaire, France by Alstom Marine for IFREMER and the French Navy and primarily used by Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine (SHOM). Pourquoi Pas ? was ordered in December 2002 and completed in July 2005. The 66 million euro cost was financed by IFREMER (55%) and the French Navy (45%).