Leading the design and construction of the next class of ocean-going research vessels for the National Science Foundation

Oregon State University is leading the charge in designing and delivering the next generation of ships to advance coastal science.

With more modern technology and abilities than previous generations of ocean research ships, these Regional Class Research Vessels (RCRV) will be cutting-edge platforms that provide scientists and educators access to the marine realm. The RCRV’s environmentally conscious and acoustically quiet design, robust on-board sensor suite, and advanced overboard-handling systems for the launch and recovery of scientific packages will greatly bolster the U.S. marine science research capacity. The first RCRV is expected to launch in 2020 and will be operated by OSU on the West Coast as part of the University-Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS).