Refit gives UConn oceanographic research vessel new lease of life

The lengthened oceanographic research vessel Connecticut has returned to operations for University of Connecticut (UConn) Marine Sciences.

Now 27.4 metres in length after its mid-life refit at Blount Boats’ shipyard at Rhode Island, the vessel was 23.1 metres when built in 1998.

A redesign by Glosten added a 4.2-metre “plug” to the midsection of the ship, creating space for six additional accommodation spaces, doubling the size of the wet lab and dry lab, and increasing the capacity of fresh water, sewage, and fuel tanks to extend the vessel’s range and endurance.

Einhorn Engineering was also contracted to improve the stern thruster and dynamic positioning performance.

Connecticut is used by university staff and students for research using observations and numerical models to conduct cross-disciplinary investigations in biological, chemical, physical and geological oceanography and marine meteorology.