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 see one, please send your suggested revision to me at timcolton@aol.com
Builder

Location

 Hull # O.N. Name Owner/Operator GT Ft. Delivery Disposition
Albina Machine Portland OR 404 na Cayuse National Science Foundation 165 79 1968 Operated by Oregon State U.
All American Marine Bellingham WA 93 na New Alosa CA Dept. of Fisheries   42 2003 Active
All American Marine Bellingham WA 14-45 1266419 Gulf Surveyor U. of New Hampshire 17 45 Dec-16 Active
All American Marine Bellingham WA 22-55 1288958 Shearwater Duke U. 98 77 Sep-19 Active
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, now Pilgrim (Panama)
American Marine New Orleans LA 1071 540259 Research Tide Tidewater Marine 495 206 Jun-72 Later Denny Tide, Ocean Victory
Atlantic Marine Jacksonville FL 116 na Anweshak ONGC (India) 780 160 Apr-75 Active
Atlantic Marine Jacksonville FL 172 na New Horizon UNOLS 800 170 Dec-78 Operated by Scripps Institute, now Bold Horizon
Atlantic Marine Jacksonville FL 185 na Cape Florida National Science Foundation 296 122 May-81 Operated by Duke U., sold to Cape Fear Comm. Coll. 2013, now Point Sur
Atlantic Marine Jacksonville FL 186 na Cape Hatteras National Science Foundation 296 122 Jul-81 Operated by San Jose State U., sold to U. of Southern Mississippi 2015, active
Atlantic Marine Jacksonville FL 197 1225704 Seward Johnson Harbor Branch Institution 300 184 Jul-84 Active
Basic Marine

Escanaba MI

 117   Sturgeon U.S. Geological Survey 180 101 Jul-04 Active
Bellenger SY Jacksonville FL 105   Columbus Iselin U. of Miami 280   Jun-72 Now Genesis (Belize)
Bender SB Mobile AL 1085 634430 Tommy Munro Gulf Coast Research 150   Mar-81 Active
Bender SB Mobile AL   647298 Geomar III Geomar 300   1982 Now Cape Scott
Bethlehem Steel Baltimore MD 7006   Ridgeley Warfield Johns Hopkins U.  260   1967 Active
Bishop SB Aransas Pass TX 12   Leo Wood, Jr.   194 140 1965 Later A. B. Wood II, now 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 Now 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-07 Active
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-11 Active
Burger Boat Manitowoc WI 103 1251531 Arcticus U.S. Geological Survey 148 77 2014 Active
Burton SY Port Arthur TX 325 288786 Heron Heron Boat Co. 198 104 1962 Now Locator
Dakota Creek Ind.

Anacortes WA

 46   Hugh R. Sharp UNOLS 252 131 Oct-05 Operated by U. of Delaware
Delta Marine Ind./LUDD Seattle WA   581710 Annika Marie Oceanic Research 27 42 1977 Active
Delta Marine Ind./LUDD Seattle WA   591832 Cormorant U. of California  27 42 1978 Active
Derecktor NY Mamaroneck NY   1101740 Damit Janet V Florida Research 72 58 1976 Active
Derecktor NY Mamaroneck NY 193 1126487 First State U. of Delaware 63 62 Jun-02 Active
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-00 Operated by U. of Miami
Freeport SB Freeport FL 51 1069513 Rapture Certified Marine 97 127 1998 Now Safari Explorer
Freeport SB Freeport FL 58 1095764 J. R. Navigator Sea Exploration 295 151 2000 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 130 1034819 Fairfield Hunter Fairfield Industries 41 58 1996 Now Madison Mar
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 144 1046278 Fairfield Speculator Fairfield Industries 45 65 1996 Now Seascan Speculator
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 145 1050794 Fairfield Expedition Fairfield Industries 47 65 1997 Now 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 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 180 1172960 James H. Scott Global Geophysical 73 69 Jul-05 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 201 1226890 Roger B Oilfield Marine 18 35 May-10 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 205 1232169 Ms Grace Oilfield Marine 37 63 Mar-11 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 209 1239163 TZ 401 Adv. Seismic Tech. 8 40 Apr-12 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 210 1239164 TZ 402 Adv. Seismic Tech. 8 40 Apr-12 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 212 1243625 Apalachee Florida State U. 65 80 Nov-12 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 213 1256966 Blake Evans & Assoc. 92 82 Oct-14 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 214 1260033 Trident Texas A. & M. U. 92 60 Apr-15 Active
Geo Shipyard New Iberia LA 215 1266500 Jim Franks Southern Miss. U. 84 60 Feb-16 Active
Gladding-Hearn SB Somerset MA 82   Chesapeake       Nov-63  
Gladding-Hearn SB Somerset MA 247 670063 John M. Kingsbury Cornell U. 34 47 1984 Active
Gladding-Hearn SB Somerset MA 274   Osprey       Mar-91  Active
Gladding-Hearn SB Somerset MA 276   Brick Bat (Chinook)       Aug-91 Active 
Gladding-Hearn SB Somerset MA 288 993371 Gulf Challenger U. of New Hampshire 45 50 Aug-93 Active
Gladding-Hearn SB Somerset MA 333 1125873 Fay Slover Old Dominion U. 51 55 Oct-02 Active
Gladding-Hearn SB Somerset MA 344 1152531 Tioga Woods Hole Institute 53 60 Apr-04 Active
Goudy & Stevens

East Boothbay ME

 20 690806 Fairtry UNOLS 175 86 Dec-85 Operated by U. of Minnesota Duluth, now Blue Heron
Goudy & Stevens

East Boothbay ME

 232 900348 Argo New York State 36 42 Jan-86 Active
Grafton Boat Works

Grafton IL

   1124862 Lady Margaret Scott Carter 23   1971 Active
Great Lakes Towing

Cleveland OH

 104 1249427 Kaho U.S. Geological Survey 67 71 Aug-11 Active
Great Lakes Towing

Cleveland OH

 105 1245695 Muskie U.S. Geological Survey 67 71 Aug-11 Active
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, now Pipeline  Surveyor
Halter Marine New Orleans LA 107 501045 Western  Crest Western  Geophysical   172   1965 Now Crest
Halter Marine New Orleans LA 108 501539 Western  Beacon Western  Geophysical   144   1965 Now Beacon (Panama)
Halter Marine New Orleans LA 138   Western  Sea Western  Geophysical  173   1966 Later Maro L, Duke, Caretta, Fadak, now Caretta (Belize)
Halter Marine New Orleans LA 139   Western  Beach Western  Geophysical  246   1966 Later Alexia L, now Clairy T (Greece)
Halter Marine New Orleans LA 158   Western  Shoal Western  Geophysical  199   1967 Now Olaf (Neth. Ant.)
Halter Marine   1805 1196009 Ms Cordelia Global Geophysical 245   Jul-07 Active
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 Now Kirawan
JeffBoat Jeffersonville IN 1423   Phaedra   726   1966 Later Phaedra II, Charlotte Explorer, Explorer, now 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, now Niobe Corinthian (Ecuador)
Karl's Welding Prudhoe Bay AK     Arctic Surveyor Max G. Hulse 275   1983 Now Tropic Explorer
LaForce Shipyard Bayou La Batre AL 87 1071699 Mr. C II B. & L. Marine 322 115 1998 Now Global Scout
Mangone SB Houston TX 68 501417 Cecil H. Green Geophysical Service 347   1965 Now 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, now Ville d'Abidjan (Panama)
Mangone SB Houston TX 73 511366 Seismic Explorer Seismic Explorations 291   1967 Now Joe G Jr.
Mangone SB Houston TX 91 522195 Seismic Surveyor Seismic Explorations 614   1969 Now Tango I (Argentina)
Mangone SB Houston TX 126   Western Strait Western Geo 261   1979 Now Kaimikai-O-Kanaloa
Mangone SB Houston TX 127   Western Narrows Western Geo 394   1980 Now Walvis 5
Mangone SB Houston TX 128 622374 Owen Tide II Tidewater Marine 740   1980 Now Mabisel Owen Tide II (Nigeria)
Mangone SB Houston TX 130 637605 Mariner Viking Havco Offshore 268   1981 Later C/Viking, OMS Cameron, now Cameron (Nigeria)
Marco Seattle WA 474 1065176 Robert G Brownlee Marine Science Institute 89 90 1996 Active
Marinette Marine Marinette WI 293 672261 Chippewa Chippewa Inc 18 40 1957 Active
Marinette Marine Marinette WI 8264 661964 Shell America Shell Offshore 6,051 300 Dec-83 Later American Explorer, Pacific Explorer, now Polar Explorer (Vanuatu)
Marinette Marine Marinette WI 650 1229238 Sikuliaq National Science Foundation 3,334 261 Jul-14 Operated by U. of Alaska Fairbanks, active
Martinac SB Tacoma WA 145 1193984 Alpha Helix National Science Foundation 289 117 Feb-66 Operated by U. of Alaska Fairbanks, sold 2007, active (Mexico)
Maryland SB Baltimore MD 140 1048157 Atlantis II Woods Hole Institute 1,701   Jan-63 Later Antares, now Atlantis II
Midship Marine Harvey LA 296 1130386 Patricia Chesapeake Bay Fndn. 53 60 2002 Active
Mobile Ship Repair Mobile AL     Jackson Creek   145   1957 Now Yusuf Kanoo
Modern Marine Pwr . Houma LA 29 619902 Digicon Explorer Dorset Explorer 290   1980 Later Fairfield Explorer, now Trinity Explorer
Moe Enterprises Hoquiam WA 53-02 583914 Turning Tide U.S. Dept. of Interior 34 48 1977 Active
Moe Enterprises Hoquiam WA 57-05 1162963 Nerissa Orange Conty 68 57 2004 Active
Moe Enterprises Hoquiam WA 57-06 1214932 Jack Robertson U. of Washington 76 57 Aug-08 Active
Moss Point Marine Escatawpa MS 94 Eagle   250 1987 Active
Nichols Bros. Freeland WA 126 1058674 Lorelei Orion Star 99 74 Nov-97 Active
North American SB Larose LA 137 981475 Nathaniel B. Palmer National Science Foundation 6,174 281 Feb-92 Op. by Edison Chouest Offshore, active
North American SB Larose LA 154 1057229 Laurence M. Gould National Science Foundation 2,966 207 Oct-97 Op. by Edison Chouest Offshore, active
North American SB Larose LA 224 1169958 Sea Venture Chouest Offshore 9,926 311 Sep-05 Active
Paasch Marine Erie PA   260415 Nellie III John D. Ross 18 48 1950 Now 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-99 Active
Peregrine Falcon LLC Anchorage AK 166 1238385 Mark Steven Peregrine Falcon LLC 81 Mar-12 Active
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-75 Operated by Woods Hole Institution, later by Oregon State U. 2012, active
Peterson Builders Sturgeon Bay WI 9250-2   Wecoma National Science Foundation 289 177 Nov-75 Operated by Oregon State U., scrapped 2012
Peterson Builders Sturgeon Bay WI 9345   Endeavor National Science Foundation 289 185 Oct-76 Operated. by U. of Rhode Island, active
Rozema BW

Mount Vernon WA

 1159 1100178 Elakha Oregon State U. 42 54 2000 Active
Sea-Fab

Pascagoula MS

 144 656236 Ocean Surveyor C. & C. Technologies 90 91 1983 Active
Sea-Fab

Pascagoula MS

 151 965917 John Dempsey State of Connecticut 31 50 1990 Active
Southwest SY Houston TX 9511 646454 Digicon Definition Dorset Research 190   1982 Now Sirius B
Sturgeon Bay SB

Sturgeon Bay WI

 264 639319 Eastward Duke U. 284 104 Sep-64 Active
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 Now Elizabeth
Swiftships

Morgan City LA

 1386 501456 Orion U. of Maryland 31 7 1965 Active
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 Active
Universal Iron Works Houma LA 184 646846 L'Arpenteur Survey Boats, Inc. 99   1982 Active
Universal Iron Works Houma LA 192 653322 Medeia Survey Boats, Inc. 129   1982 Active
Vigor Ballard Seattle WA 201 1268306 Sound Guardian King County WA 34 45 Jul-16 Active
Vigor Ballard Seattle WA     Sentinel CA Dept. of Water Resources   60 Dec-16 Active
Walker Shipyard Pascagoula MS 155 270437 Cynthia Walker Walker Barge Line 138 90 1955 Later Elsie Janis, now 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 Now Seawolf
Washburn & Doughty East Boothbay ME 38 965160 Grandon       un-90  
Washburn & Doughty East Boothbay ME 61 1067918 Connecticut U. of Connecticut 94 69 Jun-98 Active
Washburn & Doughty East Boothbay ME 72 1110385 Savannah UNOLS 265 92 Sep-01 Operated by Skidaway Inst.
Washburn & Doughty East Boothbay ME 76 1128062 Kittiwake Hempstead Navigation 102 72 Oct-02 Active
Weaver Shipyard Orange TX 142   Sea Raven   195   1956 Now Ali Al-Hamad
Western BB Tacoma WA     John N. Cobb U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 250d 90 1950 Active
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-81 Active
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 Active
Sermons SY       Undersea Hunter Perry Oceanographics 148   1968 Active
      Laurentian U. of Michigan 129 73 1974