Research Vessels Built in the U.S. Since WWII
Most recent update: April 23, 2020.
Research vessels vary greatly in size and complexity, depending on their mission. This table attempts to list all the research vessels built by U.S. shipbuilders since WWII, by shipbuilder and hull number, but it is undoubtedly incomplete. It does not include those built for the Navy or for NOAA, which are listed elsewhere. In addition, it does not include research vessels which were not built as research vessels, starting life as something else. In addition again, this is a very difficult sector to track because many of these boats are owned by state or local governments and do not have to be registered with the USCG. As a result, there are undoubtedly many errors and omissions.
If you have an addition or correction for this page, please send it in.
Builder | Location | O/N | Name | Customer | GT | LOA | Delivered | Notes | |
Albina Machine | Portland OR | 404 | Cayuse | National Science Foundation | 165 | 79 | 1968 | Operated by Oregon State U. | |
All American Marine | Bellingham WA | 93 | New Alosa | CA-Dept. of Fisheries | 42 | 2003 | |||
All American Marine | Bellingham WA | 14-45 | 1266419 | Gulf Surveyor | U. of New Hampshire | 17 | 45 | Dec 2016 | |
All American Marine | Bellingham WA | 22-55 | 1288958 | Shearwater | Duke U. | 98 | 77 | Sep 2019 | |
Allen Marine | Sitka AK | 52 | 1221419 | Geotiger 2 | Advanced Seismic Technology | 39 | 2009 | NLD | |
Allen Marine | Sitka AK | 53 | 1221420 | Geotiger 3 | Advanced Seismic Technology | 39 | 2009 | NLD | |
Allen Marine | Sitka AK | 54 | 1221421 | Geotiger 4 | Advanced Seismic Technology | 39 | 2009 | NLD | |
Allied Shipyard | Larose LA | 138 | 1208913 | Global Longhorn | Global Geophysical | 179 | 94 | 1971 | later Longhorn |
Allied Shipyard | Larose LA | 160 | Pelican | UNOLS | 291 | 116 | 1985 | Operated by Louisiana U. Marine Consortium | |
American Marine | New Orleans LA | 909 | 299124 | Mobil Explorer | Mobil Shipping | 199 | 124 | 1964 | later Vast Explorer, Paul Langevin III, Phoenix, Eastbound One, Pilgrim (Panama) |
American Marine | New Orleans LA | 1071 | 540259 | Research Tide | Tidewater Marine | 495 | 206 | June 1972 | later Denny Tide, Ocean Victory |
Atlantic Marine | Jacksonville FL | 116 | Anweshak | ONGC (India) | 780 | 160 | Apr 1975 | ||
Atlantic Marine | Jacksonville FL | 172 | New Horizon | UNOLS | 800 | 170 | Dec 1978 | Operated by Scripps Institute, Bold Horizon | |
Atlantic Marine | Jacksonville FL | 185 | Cape Florida | National Science Foundation | 296 | 122 | May 1981 | Operated by Duke U., sold to Cape Fear Comm. Coll. 2013, Point Sur | |
Atlantic Marine | Jacksonville FL | 186 | Cape Hatteras | National Science Foundation | 296 | 122 | July 1981 | Operated by San Jose State U., sold to U. of Southern Mississippi 2015 | |
Atlantic Marine | Jacksonville FL | 197 | 1225704 | Seward Johnson | Harbor Branch Institution | 300 | 184 | July 1984 | |
Basic Marine | Escanaba MI | 117 | Sturgeon | U.S. Geological Survey | 180 | 101 | July 2004 | ||
Bellenger SY | Jacksonville FL | 105 | Columbus Iselin | U. of Miami | 280 | June 1972 | later Genesis (Belize) | ||
Bender SB | Mobile AL | 1085 | 634430 | Tommy Munro | Gulf Coast Research | 150 | Mar 1981 | ||
Bender SB | Mobile AL | 647298 | Geomar III | Geomar | 300 | 1982 | later Cape Scott | ||
Bethlehem Steel | Baltimore MD | 7006 | Ridgeley Warfield | Johns Hopkins U. | 260 | 1967 | |||
Bishop SB | Aransas Pass TX | 12 | Leo Wood, Jr. | 194 | 140 | 1965 | later A. B. Wood II, Lord Reyleigh | ||
Blount Marine | Warren RI | 20 | 269257 | Queen of France | U. of Rhode Island | 26 | 43 | 1955 | later Josephine G 1965, scrapped 2009 |
Blount Marine | Warren RI | 121 | 625760 | A. E. Verrill | Marine Enviro. Sciences | 70 | 60 | 1966 | later Observer |
Blount Marine | Warren RI | 164 | Sub Sig | Raytheon Corporation | 1971 | ||||
Boconco | Bayou La Batre AL | 127 | 1204438 | Fugro Enterprise | Fugro Leasing | 99 | 153 | Sep 2007 | |
Breaux's Bay Craft | Loreauville LA | 1288 | 555263 | Lakota | Dixon Marine Services | 36 | 47 | 1974 | |
Breaux's Bay Craft | Loreauville LA | 1603 | 692280 | Acadiana | 51 | 57 | 1985 | Operated by Louisiana U. Marine Consortium | |
Burger boat | Manitowoc WI | 101 | 1231825 | COregonus | Wisconsin DoNR | 37 | 60 | Aug 2011 | |
Burger boat | Manitowoc WI | 103 | 1251531 | Arcticus | U.S. Geological Survey | 148 | 77 | 2014 | |
Burton SY | Port Arthur TX | 325 | 288786 | Heron | Heron Boat Co. | 198 | 104 | 1962 | later Locator |
Dakota Creek Ind. | Anacortes WA | 46 | Hugh R. Sharp | UNOLS | 252 | 131 | Oct 2005 | Operated by U. of Delaware | |
Delta Marine Ind./LUDD | Seattle WA | 581710 | Annika Marie | Oceanic Research | 27 | 42 | 1977 | ||
Delta Marine Ind./LUDD | Seattle WA | 591832 | Cormorant | U. of California | 27 | 42 | 1978 | ||
Derecktor NY | Mamaroneck NY | 1101740 | Damit Janet V | Florida Research | 72 | 58 | 1976 | ||
Derecktor NY | Mamaroneck NY | 193 | 1126487 | First State | U. of Delaware | 63 | 62 | June 2002 | |
Duwamish SY | Seattle WA | Shad | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | 44 | 1958 | to Alaska 1960 | |||
Eastern Shipbuilding | Panama City FL | 683 | 1091050 | F. G. Walton Smith | UNOLS | 325 | 96 | Feb 2000 | Operated by U. of Miami |
Freeport SB | Freeport FL | 51 | 1069513 | Rapture | Certified Marine | 97 | 127 | 1998 | later Safari Explorer |
Freeport SB | Freeport FL | 58 | 1095764 | J. R. Navigator | Sea Exploration | 295 | 151 | 2000 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 130 | 1034819 | Fairfield Hunter | Fairfield Industries | 41 | 58 | 1996 | later Madison Mar |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 144 | 1046278 | Fairfield Speculator | Fairfield Industries | 45 | 65 | 1996 | later Seascan Speculator |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 145 | 1050794 | Fairfield Expedition | Fairfield Industries | 47 | 65 | 1997 | later Expedition |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 146 | 1050795 | Fairfield Quest | Fairfield Industries | 47 | 65 | 1997 | later Global Quest |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 149 | 1058458 | Fairfield Vision | Fairfield Industries | 48 | 65 | 1997 | later Global Vision |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 150 | 1060662 | Fairfield Mirage | Fairfield Industries | 48 | 65 | 1997 | later Global Mirage |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 170 | 1111303 | Lori B | Global Geophysical | 33 | 48 | 2001 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 180 | 1172960 | James H. Scott | Global Geophysical | 73 | 69 | July 2005 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 201 | 1226890 | Roger B | Oilfield Marine | 18 | 35 | May 2010 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 205 | 1232169 | Ms Grace | Oilfield Marine | 37 | 63 | Mar 2011 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 209 | 1239163 | TZ 401 | Adv. Seismic Tech. | 8 | 40 | Apr 2012 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 210 | 1239164 | TZ 402 | Adv. Seismic Tech. | 8 | 40 | Apr 2012 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 212 | 1243625 | Apalachee | Florida State U. | 65 | 80 | Nov 2012 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 213 | 1256966 | Blake | Evans & Assoc. | 92 | 82 | Oct 2014 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 214 | 1260033 | Trident | Texas A. & M. U. | 92 | 60 | Apr 2015 | |
Geo Shipyard | New Iberia LA | 215 | 1266500 | Jim Franks | Southern Miss. U. | 84 | 60 | Feb 2016 | |
Gladding-Hearn SB | Somerset MA | 82 | Chesapeake | Nov 1963 | |||||
Gladding-Hearn SB | Somerset MA | 247 | 670063 | John M. Kingsbury | Cornell U. | 34 | 47 | 1984 | |
Gladding-Hearn SB | Somerset MA | 274 | Osprey | Mar 1991 | |||||
Gladding-Hearn SB | Somerset MA | 276 | Brick Bat (Chinook) | Aug 1991 | |||||
Gladding-Hearn SB | Somerset MA | 288 | 993371 | Gulf Challenger | U. of New Hampshire | 45 | 50 | Aug 1993 | |
Gladding-Hearn SB | Somerset MA | 333 | 1125873 | Fay Slover | Old Dominion U. | 51 | 55 | Oct 2002 | |
Gladding-Hearn SB | Somerset MA | 344 | 1152531 | Tioga | Woods Hole Institute | 53 | 60 | Apr 2004 | |
Goudy & Stevens | East Boothbay ME | 20 | 690806 | Fairtry | UNOLS | 175 | 86 | Dec 1985 | Operated by U. of Minnesota Duluth, Blue Heron |
Goudy & Stevens | East Boothbay ME | 232 | 900348 | Argo | New York State | 36 | 42 | Jan 1986 | |
Grafton Boat Works | Grafton IL | 1124862 | Lady Margaret | Scott Carter | 23 | 1971 | |||
Great Lakes Towing | Cleveland OH | 104 | 1249427 | Kaho | U.S. Geological Survey | 67 | 71 | Aug 2011 | |
Great Lakes Towing | Cleveland OH | 105 | 1245695 | Muskie | U.S. Geological Survey | 67 | 71 | Aug 2011 | |
Gulf Island Shipyards | Dularge LA | 6096 | Taani | National Science Foundation | 199 | 2020 | building, to be operated by Oregon State U. | ||
Gulf Island Shipyards | Dularge LA | 6097 | Resolution | National Science Foundation | 199 | 2020 | building, to be operated by U. of Rhode Isl | ||
Gulf Island Shipyards | Dularge LA | 6098 | National Science Foundation | 199 | 2021 | building, to be operated by Oregon State U. | |||
Gulf Island Shipyards | Dularge LA | 6099 | National Science Foundation | 199 | 2021 | building, to be operated by Louisiana U. Marine Consortium | |||
Halter Marine | New Orleans LA | 102 | Western Geophysical IV | Western Geophysical | 197 | 1965 | wrecked and scrapped 1984 | ||
Halter Marine | New Orleans LA | 103 | 500400 | Western Geophysical V | Western Geophysical | 197 | 1965 | later Western Reef, Pipeline Surveyor | |
Halter Marine | New Orleans LA | 107 | 501045 | Western Crest | Western Geophysical | 172 | 1965 | later Crest | |
Halter Marine | New Orleans LA | 108 | 501539 | Western Beacon | Western Geophysical | 144 | 1965 | later Beacon (Panama) | |
Halter Marine | New Orleans LA | 138 | Western Sea | Western Geophysical | 173 | 1966 | later Maro L, Duke, Caretta, Fadak, Caretta (Belize) | ||
Halter Marine | New Orleans LA | 139 | Western Beach | Western Geophysical | 246 | 1966 | later Alexia L, Clairy T (Greece) | ||
Halter Marine | New Orleans LA | 158 | Western Shoal | Western Geophysical | 199 | 1967 | later Olaf (Neth. Ant.) | ||
Halter Marine | 1805 | 1196009 | Ms Cordelia | Global Geophysical | 245 | July 2007 | |||
Hansen Welding | Seattle WA | 71 | Muskie | U.S. Geological Survey | 65 | 1960 | retired 2011 | ||
Hansen Welding | Seattle WA | 72 | Kaho | U.S. Geological Survey | 65 | 1961 | retired 2011 | ||
Hansen Boats | Seattle WA | 534248 | Bering | R Lee Higbee | 93 | 68 | 1971 | later Kirawan | |
Jeffboat | Jeffersonville IN | 1423 | Phaedra | 726 | 1966 | later Phaedra II, Charlotte Explorer, Explorer, Pacific Tuna King (Mexico) | |||
Jeffboat | Jeffersonville IN | 1589 | Artemis | 545 | 1966 | later H J W Fay, Seiscom Discovery, ENS 2, scrapped 1991 | |||
Jeffboat | Jeffersonville IN | 1796 | 581898 | Niobe | 993 | 1967 | later Corinthian, Niobe Corinthian (Ecuador) | ||
Karl's Welding | Prudhoe Bay AK | Arctic Surveyor | Max G. Hulse | 275 | 1983 | later Tropic Explorer | |||
LaForce Shipyard | Bayou La Batre AL | 87 | 1071699 | Mr. C II | B. & L. Marine | 322 | 115 | 1998 | later Global Scout |
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 68 | 501417 | Cecil H. Green | Geophysical Service | 347 | 1965 | later New Star (Panama) | |
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 71 | 503714 | Unitedgeo I | United Geo | 195 | 1966 | later Western Cape, Nautical Inspector, Pard I, sank in GoM 1995 | |
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 72 | Unitedgeo II | United Geo | 195 | 1966 | later Western Cay, Lara Hana, Carnival II, Amalia, Ville d'Abidjan (Panama) | ||
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 73 | 511366 | Seismic Explorer | seismic Explorations | 291 | 1967 | later Joe G Jr. | |
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 91 | 522195 | Seismic Surveyor | seismic Explorations | 614 | 1969 | later Tango I (Argentina) | |
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 126 | Western Strait | Western Geo | 261 | 1979 | later Kaimikai-O-Kanaloa | ||
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 127 | Western Narrows | Western Geo | 394 | 1980 | later Walvis 5 | ||
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 128 | 622374 | Owen Tide II | Tidewater Marine | 740 | 1980 | later Mabisel Owen Tide II (Nigeria) | |
Mangone SB | Houston TX | 130 | 637605 | Mariner Viking | Havco Offshore | 268 | 1981 | later C/Viking, OMS Cameron, Cameron (Nigeria) | |
Marco | Seattle WA | 474 | 1065176 | Robert G Brownlee | Marine Science Institute | 89 | 90 | 1996 | |
Marinette Marine | Marinette WI | 293 | 672261 | Chippewa | Chippewa Inc | 18 | 40 | 1957 | |
Marinette Marine | Marinette WI | 8264 | 661964 | Shell America | Shell Offshore | 6,051 | 300 | Dec 1983 | later American Explorer, Pacific Explorer, Polar Explorer (Vanuatu) |
Marinette Marine | Marinette WI | 650 | 1229238 | Sikuliaq | National Science Foundation | 3,334 | 261 | July 2014 | Operated by U. of Alaska Fairbanks |
Martinac SB | Tacoma WA | 145 | 1193984 | Alpha Helix | National Science Foundation | 289 | 117 | Feb 1966 | Operated by U. of Alaska Fairbanks, sold 2007, (Mexico) |
Maryland SB | Baltimore MD | 140 | 1048157 | Atlantis II | Woods Hole Institute | 1,701 | Jan 1963 | later Antares, Atlantis II | |
Midship Marine | Harvey LA | 296 | 1130386 | Patricia | Chesapeake Bay Fndn. | 53 | 60 | 2002 | |
Mobile Ship Repair | Mobile AL | Jackson Creek | 145 | 1957 | later Yusuf Kanoo | ||||
Modern Marine Pwr . | Houma LA | 29 | 619902 | Digicon Explorer | Dorset Explorer | 290 | 1980 | later Fairfield Explorer, Trinity Explorer | |
Moe Enterprises | Hoquiam WA | 53-02 | 583914 | Turning Tide | U.S. DOI | 34 | 48 | 1977 | |
Moe Enterprises | Hoquiam WA | 57-05 | 1162963 | Nerissa | Orange Conty | 68 | 57 | 2004 | |
Moe Enterprises | Hoquiam WA | 57-06 | 1214932 | Jack Robertson | U. of Washington | 76 | 57 | Aug 2008 | |
Moss Point Marine | Escatawpa MS | 94 | Eagle | 250 | 1987 | ||||
Nichols Bros. | Freeland WA | 126 | 1058674 | Lorelei | Orion Star | 99 | 74 | Nov 1997 | |
North American SB | Larose LA | 137 | 981475 | Nathaniel B. Palmer | National Science Foundation | 6,174 | 281 | Feb 1992 | operated by Edison Chouest Offshore |
North American SB | Larose LA | 154 | 1057229 | Laurence M. Gould | National Science Foundation | 2,966 | 207 | Oct 1997 | operated by Edison Chouest Offshore |
North American SB | Larose LA | 224 | 1169958 | Sea Venture | Chouest Offshore | 9,926 | 311 | Sep 2005 | |
Paasch Marine | Erie PA | 260415 | Nellie III | John D. Ross | 18 | 48 | 1950 | later Environaut | |
Pacific BB | Tacoma WA | 524645 | John R. Manning | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | 550 | 86 | 1950 | sold as R. B. Hendrickson | |
Patti Shipyard | Pensacola FL | 157 | 1060956 | Kiyi | U.S. Geological Survey | 290 | Oct 1999 | ||
Peregrine Falcon LLC | Anchorage AK | 166 | 1238385 | Mark Steven | Peregrine Falcon LLC | 81 | Mar 2012 | ||
Peterson Builders | Sturgeon Bay WI | 3800 | Alcoa Seaprobe | Alcoa | 1,260 | 234 | 1970 | scrapped 1980 | |
Peterson Builders | Sturgeon Bay WI | 9250-1 | Oceanus | National Science Foundation | 289 | 177 | Nov 1975 | Operated by Woods Hole Institution, by Oregon State U. 2012 | |
Peterson Builders | Sturgeon Bay WI | 9250-2 | Wecoma | National Science Foundation | 289 | 177 | Nov 1975 | Operated by Oregon State U., scrapped 2012 | |
Peterson Builders | Sturgeon Bay WI | 9345 | Endeavor | National Science Foundation | 289 | 185 | Oct 1976 | Operated. by U. of Rhode Island | |
Rozema BW | Mount Vernon WA | 1159 | 1100178 | Elakha | Oregon State U. | 42 | 54 | 2000 | |
Sea-Fab | Pascagoula MS | 144 | 656236 | Ocean Surveyor | C. & C. Technologies | 90 | 91 | 1983 | |
Sea-Fab | Pascagoula MS | 151 | 965917 | John Dempsey | State of Connecticut | 31 | 50 | 1990 | |
Southwest SY | Houston TX | 9511 | 646454 | Digicon Definition | Dorset Research | 190 | 1982 | later Sirius B | |
Sturgeon Bay SB | Sturgeon Bay WI | 264 | 639319 | Eastward | Duke U. | 284 | 104 | Sep 1964 | |
Swiftships | Morgan City LA | 273697 | Lone Star | American Ocean Systems | 48 | 61 | 1957 | inactive | |
Swiftships | Morgan City LA | 295019 | Aquarius | U. of Maryland | 53 | 64 | 1964 | later Elizabeth | |
Swiftships | Morgan City LA | 1386 | 501456 | Orion | U. of Maryland | 31 | 7 | 1965 | |
Swiftships | Morgan City LA | 115 | 1208062 | Cape Henlopen | U. of Delaware | 197 | 110 | 1976 | later Ocean Lady, Hispaniola, NLD |
Universal Iron Works | Houma LA | 62 | 500825 | Ocean Explorer | 247 | 1965 | NLD | ||
Universal Iron Works | Houma LA | 178 | 637873 | Geodetic Surveyor | Survey Boats, Inc. | 95 | 1981 | ||
Universal Iron Works | Houma LA | 184 | 646846 | L'Arpenteur | Survey Boats, Inc. | 99 | 1982 | ||
Universal Iron Works | Houma LA | 192 | 653322 | Medeia | Survey Boats, Inc. | 129 | 1982 | ||
Vigor Ballard | Seattle WA | 201 | 1268306 | Sound Guardian | King County WA | 34 | 45 | July 2016 | |
Vigor Ballard | Seattle WA | Sentinel | CA-Dept. of Water Resources | 60 | Dec 2016 | ||||
Walker Shipyard | Pascagoula MS | 155 | 270437 | Cynthia Walker | Walker Barge Line | 138 | 90 | 1955 | later Elsie Janis, Sirenian |
Walker Shipyard | Pascagoula MS | 273416 | Wayne Walker | Walker Barge Line | 159 | 95 | 1957 | later Lilian Walker | |
Washburn & Doughty | East Boothbay ME | 13 | 657422 | Bagatell | Research Fndn. of NY | 122 | 80 | 1982 | later Seawolf |
Washburn & Doughty | East Boothbay ME | 38 | 965160 | Grandon | un-90 | ||||
Washburn & Doughty | East Boothbay ME | 61 | 1067918 | Connecticut | U. of Connecticut | 94 | 69 | June 1998 | |
Washburn & Doughty | East Boothbay ME | 72 | 1110385 | Savannah | UNOLS | 265 | 92 | Sep 2001 | Operated by Skidaway Inst. |
Washburn & Doughty | East Boothbay ME | 76 | 1128062 | Kittiwake | Hempstead Navigation | 102 | 72 | Oct 2002 | |
Weaver Shipyard | Orange TX | 142 | Sea Raven | 195 | 1956 | later Ali Al-Hamad | |||
Western BB | Tacoma WA | John N. Cobb | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | 250d | 90 | 1950 | |||
Wills-Spedden SY | Baltimore MD | 296 | 259284 | Maury | Johns Hopkins U. | 33 | 58 | 1950 | sold 2013 |
Zyvex Perf. Materials | Bothell WA | 1 | 1229852 | Piranha | Zyvex Perf. Materials | 43 | 2010 | ||
Zyvex Perf. Materials | Bothell WA | 2 | 1231513 | 540SE | Zyvex Perf. Materials | 43 | 2011 | ||
Gulfstar Inc. | Chesapeake | 34 | 53 | 1974 | Operated by Hampton U. | ||||
Miller, Glenn E. | Coral Sea | 143 | 84 | 1974 | Operated by Humboldt State U. | ||||
Misener Marine | Mizner | Mississippi State U. | 110 | Mar 1981 | |||||
Morgan Boats | Delphinus | 54 | 53 | 1982 | Operated by Florida Inst. of Technology | ||||
Panhandle Marine | 39 | Cape Fear | 77 | 63 | 1988 | Operated by U. of NC Wilmington | |||
Sea State One Marine | 154 | Maxime | Vogel, William T. | 32 | 2007 | ||||
Sermons SY | Undersea Hunter | Perry Oceanographics | 148 | 1968 | |||||
Laurentian | U. of Michigan | 129 | 73 | 1974 |