Our Vessels – Marine Operations

Description: The research vessel JOHN H. MARTIN was donated to Moss Landing Marine Laboratories by Mr. Jeff Meyer. The 56-foot vessel was built in 1985 by Westport Boat Builders for charter fishing. The JOHN H. MARTIN has been equipped as an oceanographic research vessel capable of trawling, bottom sampling, hydrographic sampling, side scanning, limited geophysical surveying, dive operations and bird/mammal surveys.

Features: The outstanding feature of the JOHN H. MARTIN is its speed, enabling rapid transit to and from work sites in and around Monterey Bay. The conversion has added an A-frame, winch, flying bridge observation platform, and a dive ladder. The cabin area can accommodate computers and other dry scientific equipment. The JOHN H. MARTIN is equipped with a Seabird thermosalinograph, a Seabird flurometer, an underway data acquisition system, a Teledyne Workhorse acoustic doppler current profiler, Simrad EK 60 Echo Sounder, and NEMA 2000 and 183 networks.

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Description: The R/V Sheila B. is a 30’x10’ PackCat aluminum hull landing craft built by the William E. Munson Co. in 2001. She has been in service since as a multi-purpose research platform.

Features: The unique hull design allows this vessel to work in the shallow waters of Elkhorn Slough as well as open-ocean, ranging from Pt. Lobos to San Francisco Bay. The removable seating atop the cabin is ideal for visual surveys of birds and mammals and a hydraulic actuated bow door allows easy transfer of gear, personnel and divers. The cabin area provides good weather protection and includes a head enclosure.