All American Marine (AAM), together with NOAA, announces the launch of RV GANNET for NOAA Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS).
GRNMS is located 19 miles off Sapelo Island, Georgia, and is one of 15 marine sanctuaries and monuments that make up the US National Marine Sanctuary System. This research vessel was constructed inside AAM’s state-of-the-art facility on Bellingham Bay. The vessel is a 52’ x 19’ semi-displacement aluminum catamaran hull that was developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand. The vessel is based on the proven design elements found in the recently commissioned and successful research vessel “Storm Petrel,” built for NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
This versatile research vessel will navigate inland waterways and offshore ocean routes, accommodating up to 16 passengers and a crew of 2. Its twin-engine speed and remarkable fuel efficiency are pivotal in achieving NOAA’s research objectives. This enables comprehensive exploration and analysis of the vital coastal and marine regions in the Southeastern United States. The insights gleaned from scientific missions aboard this vessel will play a direct role in bolstering the stewardship and preservation of the marine sanctuary’s precious resources.
GRNMS is one of the most extensive near-shore “live-bottom” reefs of the southeastern United States. It is just one of 15 marine protected areas that make up the National Marine Sanctuary System, governed by the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary stands as the lone safeguarded natural reef zone along the Georgia coast’s continental shelf, and it’s a rare gem in the broader expanse of the ocean, extending from Cape Hatteras, NC, to Cape Canaveral, FL. This sanctuary, spanning approximately 22 square miles (roughly 14,000 acres), may be a modest segment of the vast US territorial Atlantic Ocean, but its significance as a pristine marine habitat garners recognition both nationally and internationally.
(Image credit: All American Marine)
“We are beyond excited to put the RV Gannet to work, and with greater range and deck space, this vessel will transform scientific research and long-term monitoring capabilities at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary and across the South Atlantic Bight by providing an extremely capable, multi-mission platform for NOAA and our partners,” stated, Stan Rogers, Sanctuary Superintendent, “All American Marine has built a vessel specifically for our mission requirements, and we can’t wait to begin delivering results.”
Powered by twin Cummins QSC8.3 engines with twin propellers, this custom vessel will serve as a valuable asset for NOAA’s specific mission off Coastal Georgia. The vessel will host a variety of research missions and visiting scientists concentrating on seafloor mapping, habitat characterization, data collection, and the monitoring of the health of ocean species and marine wildlife.
Onboard the vessel, there is approximately 250 square feet of working space on the aft deck, with a complete complement of working gear and a grid of deck sockets. The deck sockets are spaced every two feet and allow equipment and gear to be secured, moved, or removed from the working deck. There is a covered flybridge on the upper deck, allowing vessel operations from a higher elevation while conducting research missions. The top deck also features an Interocean Conduction Wire Winch, a Hauling Winch, and a Morgan 300.4 crane. The main deck features an adjustable A-Frame for launching scientific equipment. Additional features of the research vessel include both a wet laboratory for examining specimens and a dry laboratory for processing data. On board the vessel’s main deck is a fully equipped galley and comfortable dinette with a settee/bunk, kitchenette, and wet head.
