The Fleet
Vessels that make your research possible
About Our Vessels
GMSO offers a globally dispersed fleet of diverse research vessels tailored to meet the rigorous demands of at-sea marine science. Our experienced teams support research, exploration, science diplomacy, and emergency response missions. From shallow coastal waters to the deep ocean, our vessels and expert operators ensure safe, efficient, comfortable, and successful operations. Utilizing GMSO’s regionally-operated vessels offer government, academic, private, and non-profit institutions accessibility to at-sea research platforms, enhanced flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for your research needs. Whether you need dive support, icebreaking capabilities, hydrographic surveys, marine mammal observation, CTD casts, plankton tows, aerial surveys, or specialized sampling, GMSO has the right solution for your requirements.
GMSO Fleet
R/V Cosmo
| Operational region: SE USA, Caribbean, Central America |
| Capabilities: A-frame, oceanographic winch, dive platform, tender |
| Length: 57 ft/17.3 m | Weight (GT): 62 |
| Range (nm): 4,000 | Endurance (days): 5+ |
| Cruising speed (kts): 8 | Flag: USA |
| Berths/# of scientists: 3 overnight/6 daytrip | Vessel class: Oceanographic Research Vessel |
The R/V Cosmo is a custom-built expedition trawling vessel originally designed for round-the-world cruising. This is an excellent research vessel for coastal and smaller offshore operations. It has a long range and stable platform (ideal for dive operations), with capabilities including an oceanographic winch and A-frame.
GMSO Partner Vessels
R/V Robert Gray
| Operational region: Circumnavigates North America annually (available for rerouting based on program needs) |
| Capabilities: Sonar moonpool, additional workboat, A-frame and oceanographic winch (upon request) |
| Length: 125 ft/38 m | Weight (GT): |
| Range (nm): 5,000 | Endurance (days): 30+ |
| Cruising speed (kts): 9 | Flag: USA |
| Berths/# of scientists: 12 | Vessel class: Oceanographic Research Vessel |
R/V Robert Gray, currently on the first part and southern leg of a circumnavigation of North America, provides opportunities for various fields — from scientific, historical, and discovery, to oceanographic, cultural, and exploration.
R/V Western Shore
| Operational region: Western North America |
| Capabilities: A-frame (upon request), stern and bow thrusters, hydraulic stern platform, wet and dry lab space, tender |
| Length: 90 ft/27.4 m | Weight (GT): 125.9 |
| Range (nm): 4,000+ | Endurance (days): 10+ |
| Cruising speed (kts): 9 | Flag: Canada |
| Berths/# of scientists: 13 | Vessel class: Near Coastal Class I |
The R/V Western Shore is an expedition vessel constructed by Shore Boat Works in 1989 as a commercial fishing vessel and recently certified for Near Coastal Class I. R/V Western Shore is a capable research platform.
Bajau
| Operational region: Indonesia, Southeast Asia |
| Capabilities: Dive room, tender, solar powered electricity, A-frame and winch (upon request) |
| Length: 91 ft/27.7 m | Weight (GT): XX |
| Range (nm): 900 | Endurance (days): 7+ |
| Cruising speed (kts): 8 | Flag: Indonesia |
| Berths/# of scientists: 8 | Vessel class: Passenger Vessel |
Embarking on Bajau will be a journey in itself as the vessel is enhanced by solar-powered energy, allowing you to take full advantage of silence for sound studies. This passenger vessel dedicating off-seasons to research is ideal for diving, small boat operations, marine mammal observations, and other oceanographic studies.
Garcia Imoca
| Operational region: Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, open ocean |
| Capabilities: Easily modified for mission specific requirements |
| Length: 60 ft/18.3 m | Weight (GT): XX |
| Range (nm): global | Endurance (days): 30+ |
| Cruising speed (kts): variable | Flag: Austria |
| Berths/# of scientists: 6 | Vessel class: Sailing Vessel, Racer |
The Garcia Imoca is offshore sailing capable, has participated in the Vendee Globe race, and is prepared to support a variety of marine science operations.
MV Anuanua Moana
| Operational region: Oceania, Pacific |
| Capabilities: Fully equipped large research vessel with moon pool, multiple labs, survey equipment, ROV, cranes, and oceanographic winch |
| Length: 200 ft/61 m | Weight (GT): 2163 |
| Range (nm): XX | Endurance (days): 60 |
| Cruising speed (kts): 12 | Flag: Cook Islands |
| Berths/# of scientists: 42 | Vessel class: LR+100A+LMC+UMS |
A fully kitted large research vessel, MV Anuanua Moana, is ready for all of your research needs in the central Polynesian Triangle.
SA Agulhas
| Operational region: Global, polar regions |
| Capabilities: Deep hydrographic, vertical plankton, and deepwater coring winches; wet lab; helicopter flight deck/hanger (upon request); cargo capabilities; 4 small boats |
| Length: 367 ft/112 m | Weight (GT): 6,122 |
| Range (nm): 15,000 | Endurance (days): 90 |
| Cruising speed (kts): 10 | Flag: South Africa |
| Berths/# of scientists: 94 | Vessel class: LRS Ice Class 1 – LMC |
The legendary SA Agulhas is a steel hulled, ice-strengthened, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built polar expedition-capable research vessel. With a draft of ~6 meters, this global class polar icebreaker oceanographic research vessel, deftly operates anywhere in the world.
R/V Bellows
| Operational region: US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean |
| Capabilities: electromechanical hydraulic, trawling hydraulic, oceanographic, and auxiliary davit electric winches; U-frame; A-frame; side boom; wet/dry lab, tender |
| Length: 70.5 ft/21.5m | Weight (GT): 90 |
| Range (nm): 2,000 | Endurance (days): 7+ |
| Cruising speed (kts): 8 | Flag: USA |
| Berths/# of scientists: 10/10 | Vessel class: Research Vessel |
R/V Bellows is an excellent platform for conducting biological and geological oceanographic research; USV deployment, repair and recovery; fisheries surveys; trawling and diving operations; and various other pelagic and littoral operations.
R/V Searcher
| Operational region: Hawaii and surrounding waters |
| Capabilities: Crane, dive capable, (2) tenders |
| Length: 96 ft/29.2 m | Weight (GT): 230 |
| Range (nm): 3,500 | Endurance (days): 10+ |
| Cruising speed (kts): 9 | Flag: USA |
| Berths/# of scientists: 8 overnight/12 daytrip | Vessel class: Passenger Vessel |
With its proven sea-going ability and trans-Pacific range, the all-steel vessel, R/V Searcher, is an ideal platform for day trips to months-long expeditions. Twin Zodiac Mark V’s enable dive support, large equipment deployment and retrieval, and accessing remote atolls and islands.
Cirrus
| Operational region: North America, Caribbean, Central America |
| Capabilities: Fixed wing, clean wing (no FIKI) |
| Length: 26 ft/7.9m | Wingspan (m): 11.7 |
| Range (nm): 757 | Payload (kg): 387 |
| Cruising speed (kts): | Flag: USA |
| Berths/# of scientists: 3 | Vessel class: XX |
Mid-Atlantic-based fixed wing available for air-based studies. Ideal for LIDAR, marine mammal observations, and aerial photography.
GMSO Fleet Map
GMSO HQ
R/V Cosmo
R/V Robert Gray
SA Agulhus
R/V Western Shore
R/V Bellows
Baajau
R/V Searcher
Garcia Imoca
Cirrus
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