Research Vessels, Equipment and Field Activities
Monmouth University operates four vessels for research and field activities: the 49-foot Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe, the 32-foot Ocean Hawk, the 27-foot Seahawk, and the 18-foot Little Hawk. The University also owns a collection of cutting-edge technologies used for measuring, mapping, and exploring subsurface features, such as shorelines and submerged obstructions. Monmouth supports vessel and field activities for:
- Student and faculty research efforts
- Local, state, and federal agencies
- Consulting and engineering firms
- NGOs and other institutions
R/V Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe
Acquired from NOAA and originally built as a Coast Guard buoy tender, the Research Vessel Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe is fully equipped to operate up to 20 nautical miles offshore. The 49-foot vessel is rigged to carry out a variety of scientific operations.
Scientific Operation Examples
- Deployment of hydrographic survey equipment
- Water quality sampling and monitoring
- Trawling, dredging, and deployment of fixed gear to support near coastal fisheries research and stock assessment
- Collection of plankton using surface and mid-water gear
- Scientific diving operations
- Collection of sediment cores using benthic grabs and gravity corers
- Deployment and recovery of oceanographic buoys and moorings
Specifications
- Length: 49 feet
- Deck Area: 225 square feet
- Beam: 16.8 feet
- Draft: 5.6 Feet
- Displacement: 35.57 long-tons
- Max Speed: 11 knots
- Service Speed: 10 knots
- Range (at 10 knots): 300 nautical miles
- Endurance: 4 days
- Capacity: 1 captain and 22 passengers
- Propulsion: Twin 8V-71 Detroit diesel engines @ 305 HP each
- Power: 22 kW, 120/240 60 hertz, 120 amps
Equipment
- Anchor Windlass: Vetus Den Ouden Alexander II
- Main Winches: Two Pullmaster KPL8 winches
- Wire Capacity: (1/4” Wire Rope) 684 feet
- A-Frame: 18 feet 1 1/16” high by 144” wide. Safe working load of 1,800 lbs.
- Net Reel: Aluminum net reel with direct drive motor. Dimensions: 72” wide by 36” diameter flange
R/V Ocean Hawk
32’ H&H Osmond is powered by a Yanmar 440 and a 3000-watt inverter for AC power. Navigation is provided by a Furuno txt-14 touchscreen display equipped with radar and a 9” Garmin. Radio communication is handled by two Standard Horizon units, one with an automatic identification system (AIS). The vessel includes one marine head and a berthing area, as well as a large aft-deck area with an abundance of rod holders and a 10-inch pot holder.
R/V Seahawk
The Seahawk is a versatile, trailerable, 27-foot fiberglass hulled survey vessel. Its cabin is equipped with heat and air conditioning and lighted for nighttime operations. The Seahawk is rigged to support a variety of scientific work including single and multibeam hydrography, subbottom profiling, side-scan sonar, ROV support, ADCP surveys, and benthic and water column sampling.
Specifications
- Builder: Maycraft
- Construction: Fiberglass
- Length: 27 feet
- Beam: 9.5 feet
- Draft: 1.5 feet
- Minimum Operating Depth: 2 feet
- Registration: New Jersey #NJ 7117 HA
- Cabin: 1.5’ x 6’ Counter Top and Shelves
- Working deck: 11’ x 8’ (aft) with 5’ Cover
- Propulsion: Twin Yamaha 200Hp 4 Stroke Outboards
- Cruising Speed: 25 Knots (light)
- Fuel capacity: 160 Gallons/tank
- Max Capacity: 6 Passengers
- Lifting Davits: 2 with 500lb Line Pull Winches
- Anchor Handling: EZ-pull power up and down
- Power: DC: 2 Group 24 Batteries|AC: 450-watt inverter
- Wash down: 4.5 gpm pump
- Operations: Vessel operated under CFR 46 Subchapter C in compliance with USCG regulations
Safety Equipment
- 6 Adult life vests
- 6 Work vests
- 6 Adult SOLAS Approved Immersion Suits
- 1 Life Ring with Throw Rope
- Zodiac 6 Man Class-V Inflatable Life Raft
- ACR 406 MHz Category II(Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon)
- Flare Kit
- Fire Extinguisher
- First Aid Kit
- Spare Parts and Tools
Navigation and Communication
- Simrad NSE 8, Integrated DGPS Broadband Radar with Navionics chart plotter, RS-232 output
- Furuno Autopilot
- Furuno FCV 600 Fathometer 50/200 kHz
0.2 feet resolution - Standard Horizon Spectrum Plus VHF-FM DSC radio with hailer and fog horn
- Standard Horizon Eclipse Plus VHF-FM radio
- Class B Dual Channel AIS Transceiver
R/V Little Hawk
The Little Hawk is a versatile, trailerable, 18-foot fiberglass hulled center console survey vessel. The Little Hawk can be rigged to support a variety of scientific work including single and multibeam hydrography, sub-bottom profiling, side-scan sonar, ADCP surveys; benthic, fisheries, and water column sampling along the coast.
Specifications
- Builder: Parker
- Construction: Fiberglass
- Length: 18 feet
- Beam: 7.5 feet
- Draft: 1 foot
- Minimum Operating Depth: 1.5 feet
- Registration: New Jersey #NJ 8498 GX
- Cabin: None, Center Console, Tee Top
- Working deck: 6’ x 6’ (fwd)
- Propulsion: 115Hp Yamaha 2 Stoke outboard
- Cruising Speed: 26 Knots (light)
- Fuel capacity: 60 Gallons/tank
- Max Capacity: 6 Passengers
- Power: DC: 2 Group 24 Batteries|AC: 450-watt inverter
- Wash down: 4.5 gpm pump
- Operations: Vessel operated under CFR 46 Subchapter C in compliance with United States Coast Guard
Safety Equipment
- 6 Adult life vests
- 1 Life Ring with Throw Rope
- Flare Kit
- Fire Extinguisher
- First Aid Kit
- Spare Parts and Tools
Navigation and Communication
- Simrad NSS7 Integrated Radar, Fathometer, and C-Map chart plotter with RS-232 output
- Magnetic compass
- Standard Horizon Eclipse Plus DSC VHF-FM
radio
Virgilio Gonzalez
Vessel Captain and Operations Manager