From the beginning...
Callista was built to provide an enhanced 'on the water experience' for students that are studying various elements of Oceanography at the University of Southampton. The vessel is also used for Post Graduate teaching and local research, as well as our outreach activities.
Preliminary discussions about the vessel were entered into as far back as 2001, although the first tender process came to an abrupt end as funding issues curtailed progression.
In 2003 the project was resurrected as possible funding was identified.
2004 saw the shortlisting, and finally the award of the contract to Uudenkaupungin Työvene Oy (UKI WORKBOAT LTD), a Finnish ship build and repair yard in Uusikaupunki, 60km or so north of Turku.
The keel was laid in October of that year, and the vessel completed sea trials in early August 2005. She was delivered by the yard under her own power to Southampton via the Kiel Canal later in the month.
Key facts
Callista cost £1 milllion to build, which included everything down to the knives and forks. Which we still have!
It took 5 days to sail from Finland to Southampton, which is a distance of 8000 miles. (12874.75km)
