Research Vessel

By atlasthegoat

(2026-01-02)

Geo Ranger (IMO - 9885131)

By Mike_bjm

(2024-02-16)

The Geo Ranger which currently sails under the flag of The Netherlands has IMO No. 088531. It is a research/survey vessel with an overall length of 41m and a beam of 8m.

Geo Ranger, which was launched in 2020, was designed as a shallow-water survey and remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) support vessel. As such, it is a platform from which to launch and recover ROVs. To facilitate this activity, it is fitted with high capacity cranes, winches and A-frames.

The Geo Ranger's primary role is to support underwater maintenance and exploration operations.

Geo Ranger was seen on Street View in July 2023 alongside in Vestre Dokkaj. in Esbjerg, Capital Region of Denmark.

MY Steve Irwin

By McMaster_de

(2017-04-06)

The Steve Irwin is the flagship of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The ships of the Society normally patrolling the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary for Japanese whale poachers.

MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, largest solar-powered boat in the World

By Dania

(2016-04-18)

MS National Geographic Explorer

By SpiderX22

(2014-10-23)

"National Geographic Explorer is a small passenger vessel in the Lindblad Expeditions fleet."

'GSF Explorer' - Drill Ship

By ossewa

(2014-03-28)

SBE 32 Carousel Water Sampler

By kjfitz

(2013-09-07)

A CTD (often also CTD-rosette or CTD water sampler) is an essential instrument for physical and biological oceanography which is operated from a ship to measure the three main state variables of the ocean, Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth in order to improve the understanding of the world ocean. Often the device is mounted on a carousel of so-called Niskin bottles which close at predefined depths. This overall construction explains the name rosette. The closing of the sampling bottles is triggered either manually or by an on-board computer. The probed water can be analyzed further on board of the vessel for biological and chemical parameters. Besides, it is used for the calibration of the sensors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_sampler

Survey vessel Airisto

By Hinkkanen

(2012-11-11)

Survey vessel Airisto of the Finnish Transport Agency was built in 1972 by the Rauma Repola Savonlinna Yard.

Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt's research fleet

By boris_the_spider

(2011-09-10)

On the left: the former salvage tug "Simson" and former superyacht "Lone Ranger" being refitted into a research vessel.

On the right: the former fishery protection vessel "Seefalke" being refitted into a research vessel as well.

Both ships belong to Eric Schmidt's "Schmidt Ocean Institute", a private ocean research foundation. The refit is executed at Peters Schiffbau, a German shipyard that was also responsible for turning "Lone Ranger" into a superyacht.

Pacific Collector - DOD Missile Defense Agency

By kjfitz

(2010-12-14)

Navatek HDV100 lifting body technology demonstrator

By kjfitz

(2009-11-17)

In 2004, Navatek built and tested a second large-scale, lifting body technology demonstrator craft, called the HDV® (Hybrid Deep-Vee).
The 100-foot ship featured an anti-slamming, deep-vee monohull as the parent hull, mated to a Navatek experimental “blended-wing” lifting body. The HDV-100 initially operated without a lifting body allowing Navatek to conduct additional research on large deep-vee hullforms. The lifting body was installed in Fall 2005 and sea trials were conducted in 2006, proving the feasibility of installing underwater lifting bodies on monohulls as well as catamaran hull forms. Navatek currently operates the HDV-100 as a technology test bed.

Navatek CAT-40 aft lifting body

By kjfitz

(2009-11-17)

Navatek first demonstrated the aft lifting body-integrated propulsion pod (ALB/IPP) concept in 2006, installing an ALB/IPP unit with a Navatek ARES adaptive ride enhancement system on a commercial, Don Aronow-designed, 40-foot, high-speed catamaran to validate the benefits of a podded propulsor shaped as a lifting body. In 2008 the boat was retrofitted with a second-generation retractable IPP featuring an improved hydrodynamic shape with redesigned ferrallium strut and outboard motor power head. In 2009 the power head was removed from the IPP to simplify retraction and to improve operational reliability.

Navatek BLB-65/70 bow lift body

By kjfitz

(2009-11-17)

Navatek's bow lifting body (BLB) hull form achieved the greatest combination of efficiency, sea keeping, cost and producibility of any Navatek lifting body. The BLB concept was conceived in 2000 and advanced in 2003 with a CEROS grant (Center of Excellence for Research in Ocean Sciences, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to study the benefits of a bow lifting body on a large ship. Model tests in 2004 confirmed predictions of increased efficiency and the BLB’s effectiveness in wave cancellation. In 2006, Navatek built and tested at sea the BLB-70 bow lifting body technology demonstrator. Official Navy trials were conducted aboard the BLB-70 in 2007. Their subjective assessment stated: “most impressive was the smoothness and stability of the ride…” and “…the active system was highly effective in reducing the amount of severity of impacts and motions.” In 2008, the BLB-70 was modified to become the BLB-65. Its waterline length was shortened slightly, and Navatek installed its new, dihedral bow lifting body with trailing edge flaps.

Navatek MIDFOIL demonstrator

By kjfitz

(2009-11-17)

In 1998 the company launched its first lifting body ship, the 65-foot 52-ton technology demonstrator MIDFOIL, designed and built to demonstrate the performance advantages of advanced underwater displacement lifting bodies (overview). MIDFOIL’s original configuration employed a thick, two-dimensional lifting body fabricated of aluminum, with angled control fins located forward.

Further research and development resulted in an improved lifting body design, and MIDFOIL was modified, refitted and re-launched in 2000. In the modified configuration the original foil was replaced with a paraboloid-shaped, composite three-dimensional lifting body, the angled control fins were replaced with a centerline “T” foil, and an improved ride control system was installed. The demonstrated advantages of the new 3-D lifting body over the two-dimensional foil included reduced wave drag, improved stability, and higher cavitation speeds. MIDFOIL demonstrated outstanding ride quality at all speeds and headings during sea trials in Hawaiian waters. It is currently operated by Navatek as a technology test platform.

RV Kilo Moana (T-AGOR-26)

By kjfitz

(2009-11-17)

R/V Kilo Moana (T-AGOR-26) is a small waterplane area twin hull oceanographic research ship acquired by the University of Hawaii. She was designed to operate in coastal and blue water areas. The unique SWATH hull form provides a comfortable, stable platform in high sea conditions.

On 3 September 2003 Kilo Moana was delivered to the U.S. Navy as a Kilo Moana-class oceanographic research ship and leased to the University of Hawaii on the same day.

Tourist Submarine

By Tyco

(2009-11-10)

Submarine Adventure is the title of the booth next to the Submarine.

NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer (during conversion)

By kjfitz

(2009-09-02)

Known as “America’s ship for ocean exploration” the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is a new type of research vessel. 95 percent of the ocean is still unexplored—and the Okeanos Explorer is going to help change that. The ship will travel around the globe to map the seafloor and characterize largely unknown areas of the ocean. Interesting seafloor features can be discovered with the deep water multibeam sonar mapping system. Sites will be further explored with the ship’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), which can travel down to a depth of 6,000 meters. Images and high-definition video from the underwater vehicles will be sent from the vehicle to the ship to the shore in real-time. This technology is referred to as “telepresence.” The ship’s V-SAT, or very small aperture terminal, (housed in the ship’s giant golf-ball dome) is able to send this information through Internet2, a high-speed internet connection commonly used by Universities.

The Okeanos Explorer is the only NOAA ship to have a dedicated ROV. Although ROV’s have been used on other NOAA ships, they are typically removed at the end of a mission. Having a permanent ROV makes it easier to deploy at any time throughout the field season. On the Okeanos Explorer, there is an integrated control room for operating the ROV and run telepresence communication. Having the screens and computers permanently wired to the ship makes it more efficient to sustain long-term exploration in remote areas of the world.

Research Vessel V.F.G. Walton Smith

By kjfitz

(2009-07-02)

The Rosenstiel School's primary research vessel is the F.G. WALTON SMITH, named in honor of the School's founder. The Smith, which was designed to the school's specifications, was built in 1999 and placed in service in February, 2000.

The state-of-the-art 96-foot-long catamaran is capable of reaching speeds of over 9 knots and has a draft of only 7 feet. This shallow draft enables it to explore heretofore inaccessible areas such as reefs, mangroves, grassbeds, and other shallow environments. The vessel accommodates 20 people in its ten two-person staterooms and encompasses 800 square feet of laboratory space, as well as an additional 800 square feet of multi-use space astern. Constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City, Florida, the catamaran boasts twin Cummins engines at 760 hp each, Servogear variable pitch propellers, a 3,000-gallon tank of fresh water plus a reverse osmosis water maker, and 10,000 gallons of fuel storage.

The vessel also has the capability of dynamic positioning for precise station keeping, using bow thrusters, controllable pitch propellers, and independent rudders. Other specialized instruments include a transducer suite that includes ADCP transducers for measuring ocean currents; a moon pool between the hulls for drilling or coring operations; and a notched stern to facilitate maneuvering equipment into the water using the A-frame.

MS Akademik Ioffe

By Rene73

(2008-05-30)

http://photos.igougo.com/pictures-photos-m419340-c3-p132183-Akademic_Ioffe.html

Cousteau Society Ship 'Alcyone'

By mlc1us

(2007-07-06)

The Alcyone is a ship operated by the Cousteau Society. It was created as an expedition ship and to test the operation of a new kind of marine propulsion system, the turbosail. The Alcyone is equipped with two of these unusual sails, which are used to augment its diesel engines.

NOAA R/V Gordon Gunter (R336) - former spy ship

By kjfitz

(2007-05-23)

USNS Relentless (T-AGOS-18) was a Stalwart class Modified Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship of the United States Navy.

Stalwart class ships were originally designed to collect underwater acoustical data in support of Cold war anti-submarine warfare operations in the 1980s. ex-USNS Relentless is now NOAA R/V Gordon Gunter (R336).

Telescoping Ship

By Pdunn

(2007-03-07)

I'm not sure what the purpose of this ship is, but it appears that it can lower the large columns hundreds of feet beneath it. Perhaps it is to help anchor the many oil platforms in the area.

Hydro–oceanographic ship MM Aretusa (A5304)

By kjfitz

(2007-02-24)

The Aretusa, the first of the hydro–oceanographic ships built for the Italian Navy. They represent the largest GRP catamarans (40m in length) ever built in the world.

Antarctic oceanographic research ship / icebreaker Polarstern

By kjfitz

(2007-02-09)

Real-time tracking

PFS Polarstern (meaning pole star) is a German research icebreaker of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Bremerhaven. The Polarstern was put into commission in 1982 and is mainly used for research in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Polarstern was built by the Howaldtswerke/Deutsche Werft at Kiel and the Werft Nobiskrug at Rendsburg. The ship has a length of 118 metres (387 feet).

Polarstern is a double-hulled icebreaker. It is operational at temperatures as low as -50 °C. (-58°F) Polarstern can break through ice 1.5 metres thick at a speed of 5 knots. Thicker ice must be broken by ramming.

Official site

Italian Hydrographic Office ship MM Ammiraglio Magnaghi (A5303)

By kjfitz

(2007-01-27)

Displacement: 1,700 tons full load
Dimensions: 82.70 x 13.7 x 3.6 meters (271 x 45 x 12 feet)
Propulsion: 2 diesels, 1 shaft, 3,000 bhp, 17 knots
Crew: 134 + 15 scientists

CSO Orelia

By gamma

(2006-12-02)

Calypso

By Hinkkanen

(2006-10-06)

Jacques Cousteau's research ship Calypso laid up at La Rochelle. The Calypso, originally a wooden-hulled minesweeper built for the Royal Navy (HMS J-826), was launched on 21 March 1942. In the late forties she served as ferry between Malta and Gozo and in 1950 she was bought by Irish millionaire Thomas Loel Guinness who leased her to Cousteau for a symbolic one franc a year. A barge accidentally rammed Calypso and sank her in the port of Singapore in 1996. She was raised, and towed to the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle in 1998 where she was intended to be an exhibit, but after languishing and rusting there for six years Calypso was sold to Carnival Cruise Lines for the symbolic sum of one Euro.

The map shows her under protective awning that can also be seen in pictures here.

Marshall Nedelin Class Missile Range Instrument Ship

By kjfitz

(2006-06-13)

Marshall Nedelin class space event ships can also perform the functions of electronic surveillance ships.

Two ships of this type have been built: Marshal Nedelin and Marshal Krylov

Vityaz

By Hinkkanen

(2006-04-26)

Research vessel Vityaz was built in 1939 German cargo ship Mars. After the WW2 Mars fell into British hand and was renamed Empire Forth and the ship was transferred to Soviet Union as war reparation in 1946 and renamed Equator. She was converted to research ship in 1947-48 and renamed Vityaz. She made her last trip in 1979 and remained derelict in Kaliningrad. She has since been restored and has been at her current berth since 1994.

Western Neptune - Seismographic Research Ship

By kjfitz

(2006-02-28)

Picture

The highest capacity Q*-Marine single sensor marine seismic vessel. The Western Neptune is the first vessel built under the WesternGeco Joint Venture and is the flagship of the Q fleet. The Western Neptune can deploy 10 eight-kilometer streamers and is the fourth WesternGeco seismic vessel to be equipped with the proprietary Q-Marine system. During the quarter the Western Neptune was deployed in the Gulf of Mexico to acquire a large multiclient survey.

Sea Launch Commander - Assembly and Command Ship

By kjfitz

(2006-02-02)

Picture

The Assembly and Command Ship—or ACS—is an all-new, specially designed vessel that serves as a floating rocket assembly factory while in port, provides crew and customer accommodations, and also houses mission control facilities for launches at sea. The ship was built at the Govan Shipyard in Glasgow, Scotland. In the fall of 1997, the ship sailed for Russia, where special equipment for handling rocket components and for commanding and controlling launches was installed and tested. It arrived in Long Beach, Calif., on July 13, 1998, after a voyage through the Panama Canal.

The ACS is 660 feet long, approximately 106 feet wide, with a displacement of more than 34,000 tons and has a cruising range of 18,000 nautical miles. The ACS provides accommodations for up to 240 crew members, customers and VIPs—including medical facilities, dining room, recreation and entertainment facilities.

The Sea Launch platform for launching rockets used to be located here in the old Google Maps images but is not present since the most recent google database update.

FLIP - Scripps oceanographic platform

By kjfitz

(2005-08-13)

FLIP, a very strange piece of oceanographic equipment used by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. FLIP isn't a ship, even though researchers live and work on it for weeks at a time while they conduct scientific studies in the open ocean.

FLIP stands for Floating Instrument Platform: it is actually a huge specialized buoy. One of its creators described it as looking like a 355-foot long ( 108 m) baseball bat.

All the living and working areas are in the top part of FLIP. (If FLIP were a bat, this would be the grip end.) Most of the bottom (the end of the bat that connects with the ball) is empty compartments. When these are filled with air, FLIP floats in its horizontal position. When they are filled with seawater (which is heavier than air) the lower 300 feet of FLIP sink under the water and the lighter end rises. Twenty-eight minutes later, FLIP stands vertically, and its working areas have risen as much as five stories into the air.

Animation of the flip

Quicktime of actual flip