NSF’s third Regional-class research ship to operate in Gulf of Mexico

A Regional-class research vessel ordered by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) will be slated for operations in the Gulf of Mexico, the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) said in a statement.

The vessel will be one of three in a series ordered by the NSF from Gulf Island Fabrication. The first two vessels will be delivered to Oregon State University and the University of Rhode Island.

The third Regional-class vessel will be deployed to the Gulf Coast through a cooperative agreement between the NSF and the Gulf-Caribbean Oceanographic Consortium co-led by LUMCON and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Completion is expected in 2023 with the vessel scheduled to be delivered after a year of sea trials.

The vessel will have a length of approximately 200 feet (60 metres), accommodation for 29 people including scientists, and an endurance of 21 days.