Duke Univ. Research Vessel Under Construction
Construction is well underway for a new catamaran research vessel being built at All American Marine in Bellingham, WA.
JMS Naval Architects is currently serving as Owner’s Representative during the construction, outfitting, system tests, and sea trials of a 76-foot, aluminum, catamaran, research vessel for Duke University Marine Lab (DUML). The vessel was designed by Teknicraft of New Zealand.
JMS provided naval architecture and consulting services to DUML to assist them in acquiring the new research vessel. JMS assisted DUML in the development of their science mission requirements and matching those requirements to the capabilities and attributes their new vessel needs to have. Additionally, JMS assisted with defining the specific oceanographic outfitting requirements that will enable the vessel to perform these science mission requirements.
The state-of-the-art research vessel will allow marine scientists from DUML and other institutions to conduct research along the Atlantic seaboard in a wide range of vital fields, including marine ecology and conservation, biological oceanography, and renewable ocean energy development. The vessel will also serve as a classroom for undergraduate and graduate students.
The vessel will be capable of high-speed daytrips to stations in the Gulf Stream as well as shallow draft operations in and out of Oregon Inlet and Pamlico Sound. It is envisioned that the vessel will conduct research, educational outreach, and semester-at-sea programs from environs in the Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Keys. Principal outfitting includes an observation platform, rigid hull inflatable for marine mammal viewing, CTD and hydrographic winches with an A-Frame for water quality missions and a full suite of acoustic and bottom mapping sensors.
Construction of new research vessel is scheduled to be completed and delivered this summer.
Principal Characteristics:
- Length: 76’
- Beam: 26.7’
- Draft: 5.8’
- Hull: Aluminum
- Compliment: 3 (crew); 12 (live-aboard) or 30 (day)
- Propulsion: 2 x Cat C18s
- Transit speed: 24 knots
Hull roll-over video provided courtesy of All American Marine.
