Atlantic Marine Research Vessel

Preliminary Posting - Complete Details and Photos Coming Soon.

R/V CAPE HATTERAS is owned by the National Science Foundation and assigned through a Charter Party Agreement to the Duke/University of North Carolina Oceanographic Consortium. The Oceanographic Consortium is made up of five universities in North Carolina: Duke University, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina – Wilmington, and East Carolina University. Duke University Marine Laboratory provides the operations base for CAPE HATTERAS on Pivers Island near Beaufort, North Carolina.

The ship is 135 feet long, 32 feet wide and displaces 539 tons; fuel tanks hold 29,000 gallons which will carry the ship to 6,800 miles; maximum cruise duration is about 25 days. The ship carries 14 scientists (one Duke Marine Technician plus 13 others) and offers a versatile platform for oceanographic research in biology, geology, physics, and chemistry. The ship has a nominal draft of 9 feet for near coast operations.

Scientific Capabilities 

R/V CAPE HATTERAS is a modern, versatile, shared-use research platform. She underwent a complete mid-life refit in 2003 and was certified in March  2011 by ABS for five years of service, 2012 to 2017 with the option of an additional five year certification if requested, from 2018 to 2023.  

R/V Cape Hatteras has an assortment of built-in instruments and equipment that provides the analytical infrastructure for oceanographic, geological or fisheries research. Included are 12 kHz and 3.5 kHz echo-sounding systems; Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) for current determinations; and a built-in underway data accumulation system that logs navigational, meteorological, and surface water properties data at pre-determined sampling intervals.

She is offered for sale by Managing Vessel Operator, Duke University. She is berthed at the Duke Marine Laboratory facilities on Pivers Island, Beaufort, NC, USA