About Us
Experienced and passionate about ocean research
Our Story
GMSO was founded and now led by Commander G. Mark Miller, a retired National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps Officer who spent 20+ years operating and managing NOAA research vessels. He holds an Unlimited Master Mariner USCG license and a degree in Marine Geology from Long Island University, and is a member of The Explorers Club.
A study commissioned by Commander Miller during his tenure at NOAA revealed that 15,000-20,000 days at sea were requested of the NOAA fleet each year. As of 2019, the NOAA fleet was capable of fulfilling only 2,300 of those days. The study determined that small ships (60’ – 110’) could fulfill 3,000-7,000 of those days, and Commander Miller’s at-sea operational experience shows many more projects could be realized with some minor modifications. NOAA is only one example; other government agencies, universities, and non-governmental organizations have the same issue of demand exceeding supply. Hence the creation of GMSO.
Our Values
Operational expertise
Adaptability
Efficiency
Passion for the ocean
Our Solution
Our mission addresses this need by providing efficiently designed and professionally staffed research vessels at affordable prices to enable the scientific community to tackle the world’s major ocean-based problems. Our vision is to facilitate science at sea by making optimally sized, cost-effective vessels available to scientists and explorers whose projects could not otherwise afford time on the water.
Learn More About Our Fleet
All Photos on this page credited to G. Mark Miller.
Our Approach
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Hire experienced NOAA and USCG veterans
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Partner for success
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Control costs
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Pursue long-term growth
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Remain accessible and flexible
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Lead the effort to subsidize costs for ocean researchers