Building a Chesapeake Bay Research Vessel for the 21st Century

Understanding and monitoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers is critical to guiding its restoration. To help move restoration efforts forward and more effectively, UMCES is teaming up with marine architect Roger Long, Hike Metal and E.Y.E. Marine Consultants to construct a new state of the art research vessel specifically designed for the Chesapeake Bay.

The 81-foot vessel recently began construction at Hike Metal and is scheduled for completion in November 2008. It features cutting-edge low stack emissions allowing for acoustically quiet operations, and a high-capacity A-frame for launching and retrieving data buoys and other equipment weighing up to 4,200 pounds. It will also be fitted to accommodate four scientists for up to five days, and 24 day-passengers.

Learn more about the vessel:

• See architectural drawings and plans
• Follow construction progress
• Learn about a vessel naming opportunity