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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

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