Platforms: Vessels

The waters covering our planet are vast, extending over 70 percent of its surface. Beyond the coastlines of Earth’s major continents, however, the ocean remains virtually unexplored, due in part to the sheer size of the ocean and the potentially deadly conditions that await ocean travelers.

Vessels are arguably the most critical element in any ocean-going venture. Once a ship leaves the safety of its dock, it is an island unto itself on the open seas, its crew at the mercy of the waves. Any ship, from a 15-foot sailboat to a 1,500-foot tanker, must carry all of the food, water, fuel, and equipment that its crew will need to live safely for the duration of the journey.

In the case of research vessels, such as those highlighted here, the ships must also be equipped with special tools and technology that allow scientists to explore ocean environments. Research vessels are highly advanced mobile research stations, providing stable platforms from which explorers can deploy equipment, divers, and submersibles. In addition, these vessels carry state-of- the-art electronics, computers, and navigational and communications systems.

Welcome aboard!

NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter

Welcome aboard the NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter—a 224-foot, multi-use research vessel. Originally built in 1989 as the U.S. Naval Ship Relentless, this ship was transferred to NOAA in 1993 and commissioned as the Gordon Gunter on August 28, 1998.

NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown

Meet the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown. This state-of-the-art oceanographic and atmospheric research vessel is the largest ship in the NOAA fleet, measuring 274 feet and displacing more than 3,200 tons.

R/V Atlantis

The research vessel (R/V) Atlantis is owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for the oceanographic community. Specifically outfitted for launching and servicing Alvin, the human-occupied submersible, Atlantis is the namesake of WHOI’s first research vessel.

R/V Cape Fear

Owned and operated by the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, the 70-foot Research Vessel (R/V) Cape Fear is designed for research, training, and educational cruises in waters from the near shore out to the continental slope.

R/V Ka`imikai-o-Kanaloa

Meet the research vessel (R/V) Ka’imikai-o-Kanaloa (KoK). Designed to operate in coastal and blue-water areas, KoK is specifically configured to support the University of Hawaii’s manned submersibles, Pisces-V and Pisces-IV, as well as other remotely operated vehicles.

R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh

The Research Vessel (R/V) Akademik Mstislav Keldysh is owned and operated by the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This globally ranging vessel was launched in 1981 and has since supported many scientific and exploratory voyages.

R/V Kilo Moana

The Research Vessel (R/V) Kilo Moana is owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by the University of Hawaii Marine Center. This 186-foot general oceanographic research vessel is designed to operate in coastal and blue water areas.

R/V Lake Guardian

At 180 feet and displacing 850 tons, the research vessel Lake Guardian is largest Great Lakes research and monitoring vessel owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Lake Guardian is operated by the EPA's Chicago-based Great Lakes National Program Office.