On the last day of August, 4 months before the completion of the project "An Integrated System for the Complex Environmental Research and Monitoring in the Danube River area”, REXDAN, SMIS code 127065, the REXDAN research vessel docked in the port of Galați.

Built at ATG Shipyard, Giurgiu, the vessel made its first trip on the Danube (343 km) and anchored home, at the Schengen pontoon owned by the National Company Administration of the Danube Maritime Ports (CNAPDM) Galati, at 2 p.m., on August 31, 2023.

The value of the REXDAN research vessel, which represents the mobile component of the project, is approximately 7.5 million euros, and of the equipment in the related laboratories is 2 million euros.

As stated by the Rector of "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galaţi, Prof. Dr. Eng. Puiu Lucian Georgescu in the speech given to those who welcomed the REXDAN research vessel at the pontoon in front of the Navigation Palace, this is "a unique project, both from the perspective of the professionals working on the vessel, and  of the equipment provided. REXDAN is a vessel which will cover a wide range of research activities in the field of sustainable development. Measurements of environmental factors, biodiversity, water quality, sediment quality, bird activity and ichthyofauna will be made. Moreover, using the specific equipment, the course of the Danube will be scanned so as to make recommendations regarding future works along this river. Relevant educational  and research activities will be carried out on the shore, as well: all the activities on the vessel will be filmed and broadcast both to the general public and to researchers. The vessel will also be used as a mobile campus for other universities in big cities".

The first research trip of the REXDAN research vessel will cover the Romanian sector of the Danube and will bring together young researchers from "Dunărea de Jos" University of Galaţi and from other universities in Romania.