research yachts

The most advanced exploration, research, and media vessel ever built.

Capable of exploring the most unreachable places on Earth, OceanXplorer pushes the limits of discovery and broadcasts it for the world to see.

deep sea vehicles

Meters max depth, onboard labs.

Scroll to explore the ship

Dive Deeper

Experience it, keep exploring, deep sea vehicles, be first to hear about our missions, science, discoveries, and more..

Join the mission

Follow OceanX on social.

Our vision is to create a deeply engaged global community of explorers, scientists, and storytellers dedicated to educating, inspiring, and protecting the oceans in order to drive positive change. Please contact us if you are interested in licensing the use of our audiovisual or photographic content relating to the oceans and marine life. OceanX is a nonprofit initiative of the Dalio Philanthropies (www.daliophilanthropies.org) bringing science to life through captivating storytelling.

© 2024 OCEANX

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

REV Ocean is a totally unique, state of the art research and expedition vessel. It is equipped with some of the most sophisticated facilities onboard for carrying out cutting edge ocean science.  

Specifications

194.9m LENGTH

5.65m DRAUGHT

38m AIR DRAUGHT

13 MW POWER

Modes of operation

Equipment and facilities on board.

• Environment
• Nation & World

To boost ocean research, some scientists are turning to superyachts

For almost two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed pristine waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean. 

The Archimedes, a 222-foot “adventure” yacht then owned by the late hedge funder James Simons, boasts a gym, a Jacuzzi and an elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was concerned only with the boat’s Sea-Bird Scientific Solar Tracking Aiming System, installed to measure light reflecting off the water.

A senior lecturer at the U.K.’s University of Exeter, Brewin and his colleagues were analyzing microplankton — microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain — by studying the ocean’s color. The Sea-Bird’s readouts helped them verify satellite imagery. 

Brewin’s was not your typical superyacht itinerary, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht — also known as expedition or explorer yachts — to conduct research on the ocean. In a paper published in January, Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of “harnessing superyachts” for science, concluding that “reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists may help fill [research capability] gaps.” 

It’s a view shared — and being pushed — by the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York City-based organization focused on exploration and science. In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included an awards ceremony for yacht owners who “stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment.” The Archimedes won a “Science & Discovery” award. 

“If a yacht is operating 365 days a year, rather than having it sit idle it’d be much better for it to contribute a positive return through science and conservation,” says Rob McCallum, an Explorers Club fellow and founder of U.S.-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht voyages. 

EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions, and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a 4-year-old organization that matches privately owned yachts with scientists who need time at sea. Yachts for Science will enable about $1 million worth of donated yacht time this year, McCallum says, a figure he expects to hit $15 million by 2029. 

“There’s a personal satisfaction that we are contributing to something that is bigger than us,” says Tom Peterson, who co-owns an insurance underwriting company in California and has what he jokingly refers to as a “mini superyacht.”

Every year for the past decade, Peterson has donated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel on the 79-foot Valkyrie to scientists, who he takes out himself as a licensed captain and former scuba dive operator. He often works with the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, and allows researchers to stay aboard for days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5-hour trip to and from shore. 

To link up with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that engages the yachting community to support ocean conservation and research. “The more we understand things about the ocean in general, the better we all are in the long run,” he says. 

When “superyacht” and “the environment” appear in the same sentence, it’s usually in a different context.

In 2019, one study estimated that a single 233-foot superyacht has the same carbon footprint as about 200 cars. In 2021, another paper found that superyachts were the single greatest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world’s most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.

“If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surf,” says Grégory Salle, a senior researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and author of the book “Superyachts: Luxury, Tranquility and Ecocide.” Salle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it’s contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be truly concerned about the environment.

McCallum says people who own adventure yachts tend to be younger than your standard superyacht owner, and have a particular interest in remote and pristine places.

“They’re not the sort of people that are content to just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean,” he says. “Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the subantarctic islands … that’s where you’re going to find us delivering our services.”

Explorer yachts aren’t the only way scientists can reach those destinations, but demand for dedicated research vessels does outstrip available supply.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, arguably the world’s greatest collector of oceanographic data, has a fleet of 15 research and survey vessels for the use of its scientists. Academic researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request roughly 15,000 to 20,000 days of boat time every year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill just 2,300 of them, according to an internal study.

That gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. Oceans provide services that scientists call “existentially important,” producing more than half of the oxygen we breathe and serving as the world’s largest carbon sink. They also absorb 30% of our carbon emissions and 90% of the excess heat generated by them.

G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency’s research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to bolstering ocean research: smaller boats, fit for purpose. Superyachts can cost north of $500 million, he says; “why don’t we build 100 $5 million vessels and flood the ocean science community?” 

After leaving NOAA, Miller in 2021 launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says hiring a NOAA boat can cost scientists between $20,000 and $100,000 per day. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 a day for most missions. The company says it’s close to acquiring its first three vessels.

Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need to — particularly in underserved regions like the Asia Pacific — without worrying about getting a luxury yacht covered in “muddy worms, plankton goo, dead fish [and] whale snot.” He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as “better than nothing,” and says it can help get regular people interested in science and exploration. 

Christopher Walsh, captain of the Archimedes, says he and his crew love taking part in science initiatives, especially when there’s an educational component.

“I get a real thrill when we can stream to the classrooms — you can’t imagine the enthusiasm the kids display,” Walsh says. “That gives me a lot of hope for the future.”

Most Read Business Stories

• Boeing to furlough tens of thousands of workers as Machinists strike bites WATCH
• Federal Reserve signals end to inflation fight with a sizable half-point rate cut VIEW
• What Seattle-area residents should expect after Fed rate cut today
• Alaska and Hawaiian airlines merger to close soon, expanding Seattle's international reach
• Boeing layoffs begin with more ahead to cut costs during Machinists strike VIEW

Superyachts aren’t just for the super-rich: Hundreds of scientists have used them for ocean research

For almost two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed pristine waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean. 

The  Archimedes , a 222-foot (68-meter) “adventure” yacht then owned by the late hedge funder James Simons, boasts a gym, a jacuzzi and an elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was concerned only with the boat’s Sea-Bird Scientific Solar Tracking Aiming System, installed to measure light reflecting off of the water. A senior lecturer at the UK’s University of Exeter, Brewin and his colleagues were analyzing microplankton — microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain — by studying the ocean’s color. The Sea-Bird’s readouts helped them verify satellite imagery. 

Brewin’s was not your typical superyacht itinerary, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht — also known as expedition or explorer yachts — to conduct research on the ocean. In a  paper  published in January, Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of “harnessing superyachts” for science, concluding that “reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists may help fill [research capability] gaps.” 

It’s a view shared — and being pushed — by the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York City-based organization focused on exploration and science (of which, full disclosure, I am a member). In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included an  awards ceremony  for yacht owners who “stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment.” The  Archimedes  won a “Science & Discovery” award. 

“If a yacht is operating 365 days a year, rather than having it sit idle it’d be much better for it to contribute a positive return through science and conservation,” says Rob McCallum, an Explorers Club fellow and founder of US-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht voyages. 

EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions, and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a four-year-old organization that matches privately owned yachts with scientists who need time at sea. (Other members include yacht builder Arksen, media firm BOAT International, and nonprofits Nekton Foundation and Ocean Family Foundation.) Yachts for Science will enable about $1 million worth of donated yacht time this year, McCallum says, a figure he expects to hit $15 million by 2029. 

“There’s a personal satisfaction that we are contributing to something that is bigger than us,” says Tom Peterson, who co-owns an insurance underwriting company in California and has what he jokingly refers to as a “mini superyacht.” Every year for the past decade, Peterson has donated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel on the 24-meter  Valkyrie  to scientists, who he takes out himself as a licensed captain and former scuba dive operator. He often works with the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, and allows researchers to stay aboard for days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5-hour trip to and from shore. 

To link up with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that engages the yachting community to support ocean conservation and research. “The more we understand things about the ocean in general, the better we all are in the long run,” he says. 

When “superyacht” and “the environment” appear in the same sentence, it’s usually in a different context. In 2019,  one study estimated  that a single 71-meter superyacht has the same annual carbon footprint as about 200 cars. In 2021, another  paper  found that superyachts were the single greatest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world’s most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.

“If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surf,” says Grégory Salle, a senior researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and author of the book  Superyachts: Luxury, Tranquility and Ecocide . Salle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it’s contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be truly concerned about the environment.

McCallum says people who own adventure yachts tend to be younger than your standard superyacht owner, and have a particular interest in remote and pristine places. “They’re not the sort of people that are content to just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean,” he says. “Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the Subantarctic islands… that’s where you’re going to find us delivering our services.”

Explorer yachts aren’t the only way scientists can reach those destinations, but demand for dedicated research vessels does outstrip available supply. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), arguably the world’s greatest collector of oceanographic data, has a fleet of  15 research and survey vessels  for the use of its scientists. Academic researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request roughly 15,000 to 20,000 days of boat time every year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill just 2,300 of them, according to an internal study.

That gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. Oceans provide services that scientists call “ existentially important ,” producing more than  half of the oxygen we breathe  and serving as the world’s  largest carbon sink . They also absorb  30% of our carbon emissions  and  90% of the excess heat generated by them .

G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency’s research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to bolstering ocean research: smaller boats, fit for purpose. Superyachts can cost north of $500 million, he says; “why don’t we build a hundred $5 million vessels and flood the ocean science community?” 

After leaving NOAA, Miller in 2021 launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says hiring a NOAA boat can cost scientists between $20,000 and $100,000 per day. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 a day for most missions. The company says it’s close to acquiring its first three vessels.

Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need to — particularly in under-served regions like the Asia-Pacific — without worrying about getting a luxury yacht covered in “muddy worms, plankton goo, dead fish [and] whale snot.” He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as “better than nothing,” and says it can help get regular people interested in science and exploration. 

Christopher Walsh, captain of the  Archimedes , says he and his crew love taking part in science initiatives, especially when there’s an educational component. “I get a real thrill when we can stream to the classrooms — you can’t imagine the enthusiasm the kids display,” Walsh says. “That gives me a lot of hope for the future.”

Latest in Environment

Exclusive: Online shopping startup Rebelstork has raised $18 million from Maveron and Serena Williams to help solve the returns crisis

A message from American businesses: Don’t walk away from the UN

A new superfood from Africa’s ‘tree of life’ is exploding in popularity—and fetching for high prices

On-campus nuclear reactor approved for university in Texas

Massive Houston pipeline fire leaves hundreds of homes under evacuation orders for second day

I loved my job at Microsoft, but I had to resign on principle. Here’s why

Most popular.

Every single member of the board just resigned from DNA tester 23andMe

The stock market dipped after a historic Fed rate cut. Here’s what the experts think

Michael Kors admits defeat by influencers and celebrities, claiming ‘brand fatigue’ in $8.5 billion federal antitrust trial

No one cares if you roll in on time anymore, but here are the behaviors co-workers do mind

Could there be a Kamala Harris landslide in November? The data scientist who correctly called the last election is betting yes

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy ordered a full-time return to the office—but research says he’ll backtrack next year

share this!

July 8, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

reputable news agency

To boost ocean research, some scientists are turning to superyachts

by Laurel Chor, Bloomberg News

For almost two years, Robert Brewin collected data from the bow of a superyacht as it sailed pristine waters from the Caribbean Sea to the Antarctic Ocean.

The Archimedes, a 222-foot "adventure" yacht then owned by the late hedge funder James Simons, boasts a gym, a jacuzzi and an elevator. But between 2018 and 2020, Brewin was concerned only with the boat's Sea-Bird Scientific Solar Tracking Aiming System, installed to measure light reflecting off of the water. A senior lecturer at the UK's University of Exeter, Brewin and his colleagues were analyzing microplankton—microscopic organisms at the base of the marine food chain—by studying the ocean's color. The Sea-Bird's readouts helped them verify satellite imagery.

Brewin's was not your typical superyacht itinerary, but he is one of hundreds of scientists to have used an adventure yacht—also known as expedition or explorer yachts—to conduct research on the ocean. In a paper published in Frontiers in Remote Sensing , Brewin and his co-authors touted the potential of "harnessing superyachts" for science, concluding that "reaching out to wealthy citizen scientists may help fill [research capability] gaps."

It's a view shared—and being pushed—by the Yacht Club of Monaco and the Explorers Club, a New York City-based organization focused on exploration and science (of which, full disclosure, I am a member). In March, the groups co-hosted an environmental symposium that included an awards ceremony for yacht owners who "stand out for their commitment to protecting the marine environment ." The Archimedes won a "Science & Discovery" award.

"If a yacht is operating 365 days a year, rather than having it sit idle it'd be much better for it to contribute a positive return through science and conservation," says Rob McCallum, an Explorers Club fellow and founder of US-based EYOS Expeditions, which runs adventure yacht voyages.

EYOS charters yachts from private owners for its excursions, and is a founding member of Yachts for Science, a four-year-old organization that matches privately owned yachts with scientists who need time at sea. (Other members include yacht builder Arksen, media firm BOAT International, and nonprofits Nekton Foundation and Ocean Family Foundation.) Yachts for Science will enable about $1 million worth of donated yacht time this year, McCallum says, a figure he expects to hit $15 million by 2029.

"There's a personal satisfaction that we are contributing to something that is bigger than us," says Tom Peterson, who co-owns an insurance underwriting company in California and has what he jokingly refers to as a "mini superyacht."

Every year for the past decade, Peterson has donated about 15 to 20 days of time and fuel on the 24-meter Valkyrie to scientists, who he takes out himself as a licensed captain and former scuba dive operator. He often works with the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, and allows researchers to stay aboard for days at a time instead of having to constantly make the 1.5-hour trip to and from shore.

To link up with scientists, Peterson works with the International SeaKeepers Society, a Florida-based nonprofit that engages the yachting community to support ocean conservation and research. "The more we understand things about the ocean in general, the better we all are in the long run," he says.

When "superyacht" and "the environment" appear in the same sentence, it's usually in a different context. In 2019, one study estimated that a single 71-meter superyacht has the same annual carbon footprint as about 200 cars. In 2021, another paper found that superyachts were the single greatest contributor to the carbon footprint of 20 of the world's most prominent billionaires, accounting for 64% of their combined emissions.

"If you really want to respect the environment, you can just go surf," says Grégory Salle, a senior researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research and author of the book Superyachts: Luxury, Tranquility and Ecocide. Salle is open to the idea that superyachts could be used to advance scientific research, but says it's contradictory for anyone to buy a superyacht and claim to be truly concerned about the environment.

McCallum says people who own adventure yachts tend to be younger than your standard superyacht owner, and have a particular interest in remote and pristine places. "They're not the sort of people that are content to just hang out in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean," he says. "Antarctica, the Arctic, the remote Indian Ocean, the remote Pacific Ocean, the Subantarctic islands… that's where you're going to find us delivering our services."

Explorer yachts aren't the only way scientists can reach those destinations, but demand for dedicated research vessels does outstrip available supply. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), arguably the world's greatest collector of oceanographic data, has a fleet of 15 research and survey vessels for the use of its scientists.

Academic researchers can also apply to use the fleet, often at a subsidized rate. But scientists request roughly 15,000 to 20,000 days of boat time every year. In 2019, NOAA was able to fill just 2,300 of them, according to an internal study.

That gap is particularly problematic as the planet warms. Oceans provide services that scientists call "existentially important," producing more than half of the oxygen we breathe and serving as the world's largest carbon sink. They also absorb 30% of our carbon emissions and 90% of the excess heat generated by them.

G. Mark Miller, a retired NOAA Corps officer who was in charge of several of the agency's research vessels, has a different solution in mind when it comes to bolstering ocean research: smaller boats, fit for purpose. Superyachts can cost north of $500 million, he says, "why don't we build a hundred $5 million vessels and flood the ocean science community?"

After leaving NOAA, Miller in 2021 launched Virginia-based Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore with a vision of building a global fleet of research vessels and offering their use at affordable prices. He says hiring a NOAA boat can cost scientists between $20,000 and $100,000 per day. GMSO plans to charge less than $10,000 a day for most missions. The company says it's close to acquiring its first three vessels.

Miller hopes his business model will help scientists conduct the work they need to—particularly in under-served regions like the Asia-Pacific—without worrying about getting a luxury yacht covered in "muddy worms, plankton goo, dead fish [and] whale snot." He describes yacht owners donating boat time to scientists as "better than nothing," and says it can help get regular people interested in science and exploration.

Christopher Walsh, captain of the Archimedes, says he and his crew love taking part in science initiatives, especially when there's an educational component. "I get a real thrill when we can stream to the classrooms—you can't imagine the enthusiasm the kids display," Walsh says. "That gives me a lot of hope for the future."

Journal information: Frontiers in Remote Sensing

2024 Bloomberg News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Explore further

Feedback to editors

Oceanic life found to be thriving thanks to Saharan dust blown from thousands of kilometers away

16 minutes ago

New material with wavy layers of atoms exhibits unusual superconducting properties

7 hours ago

Researchers build AI model database to find new alloys for nuclear fusion facilities

Greylag geese with similar personalities have higher hatching success, study suggests

Can captive tigers be part of the effort to save wild populations?

8 hours ago

Proteins in tooth enamel offer window into ancient and modern human wellness

9 hours ago

Mysteries of the bizarre 'pseudogap' in quantum physics finally untangled

Are cows pickier than goats? Answers from innovative large-scale feeding experiments from 275 years ago

Research predicts rise in tropical hydraulic failure

10 hours ago

Human genome stored on 'everlasting' memory crystal

Relevant physicsforums posts, why does a series of pulses generate a pitch.

15 hours ago

And Now, here comes COVID-19 version BA.2, BA.4, BA.5,...

Sep 18, 2024

Therapeutic Interfering Particle

Epothilone b study connected to 'hard problem of consciousness' model.

Sep 9, 2024

Any stereo audio learning resources for other languages?

Sep 8, 2024

Too much fluoride might lower IQ in kids?

Sep 6, 2024

More from Biology and Medical

Related Stories

Crew aboard private yacht confirm sighting of bioluminescent 'milky sea'

Jul 12, 2022

Citizen scientists collect vital microplastics data—from their yachts

Jul 1, 2019

Plastic-tracking yacht adds splash of environmentalism to ocean racing

Jul 2, 2020

How do supercharged racing yachts go so fast? An engineer explains

Sep 19, 2019

Orcas are attacking ships again: Here's a history of the practice

May 16, 2024

The US may expand speed rules for boaters to protect whales, sparking industry protests

Oct 31, 2022

Recommended for you

Fossil site in Massachusetts reveals 320-million-year-old ecosystem

11 hours ago

Scientists unearth key clues to cuisine of resident killer whale populations

Buzz-pollinating bees shake pollen loose with rapid vibrations and biting, study shows

12 hours ago

Let us know if there is a problem with our content

Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form . For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines ).

Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request

Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.

Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.

E-mail the story

Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form.

Newsletter sign up

Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties.

More information Privacy policy

Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience

We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account.

E-mail newsletter

Connect with Nekton on:

Nekton Foundation is a registered charity (1162666) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (9644797).

INITIATIVES

Yachts for science.

Often one of the greatest challenges for marine scientists is access to the sea to undertake their research. Traditional research vessels are often unavailable, expensive to run, or in the wrong location, making it difficult for many research projects to take place.

Yachts for Science is a program by Nekton , Arksen , BOAT International , EYOS Expeditions , and the Ocean Family Foundation . The goal is to bring together private vessel owners and crew with marine scientists, researchers and content creators to provide access to the ocean.

Thousands of privately-owned vessels above 24 metres often have spare berths or downtime between private use or charter which could be used to support marine scientists as platforms for research. It is becoming more and more common for sailing races, yacht owners and charterers to combine their adventures with serious scientific learning and research leading to unforgettable experiences out at sea.

Yachts for Science is a platform for private vessel owners to connect with scientists of research projects which we review for their merit, through open access results, clear outcomes, and strong connections with local scientists and communities in the proposed area of study.

Interested? Find out more about the program here:

www.yachtsforscience.com

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Disneyland Resort
• Ka La’I Wakiki Beach
• Kalamazoo Grill
• Raffles Hotels & Resorts
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

Boat of the Week: This 182-Foot Shadow Vessel Doubles as a Fully Functioning Science Lab

When the pandemic hit in 2020, "gene chaser" became a floating research center where a reliable, low-cost covid-19 home testing kit was created., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

• Rolls-Royce Debuted the New Phantom Scintilla at Monterey Car Week. Here’s Everything We Know.
• This Speedy 70-Foot Power Catamaran Is Designed to Cut Through Rough Waters
• These Slim New Catamarans Are Redefining the Category. Here’s How.
• Share This Article

It’s not often you see a white-coated scientist, test-tube in hand, carrying out experiments in the middle of a big international boat show. But work never stops aboard the stealthy-gray Damen -built support yacht Gene Chaser .

The yacht is the newest acquisition by Connecticut-based DNA sequencing specialist, Dr. Jonathan Rothberg. Back in 2015, the entrepreneur bought the 180-foot Amels superyacht Engelberg , changed the name to Gene Machine and converted her into part world-girding luxury superyacht, part laboratory on water.

Related Stories

• This Roadster Is an Ode to the First Shelby Cobra Prototype—Here’s What It’s Like to Drive
• Norway Is the First Country to Have More EVs Than Gas-Powered Cars
• Meet Spitfire, a New 164-Foot Superyacht Based on a High-Performance Patrol Boat

When Covid-19 hit in 2020, Rothberg, together with an ever-growing team of scientists, spent most of the year aboard the yacht, throwing their efforts into developing a reliable, low-cost, coronavirus home testing kit.

Gene Chaser with mothership Gene Machine . The two will travel together through the end of the summer.  Courtesy Damen

Fast forward to 2021, and with Gene Machine turning into more of a floating science lab, and less of a family yacht, it seems Rothberg decided he needed a dedicated support yacht. He found it at Damen Yachting’s Vlissingen yard on Holland’s windswept North Sea coast.

Damen—which acquired Amels in 1991—had built the steel-hulled 182-footer on spec as part of its YS 5009 Yacht Support range, and launched it in late 2020. Rothberg bought her, renamed her Gene Chaser and asked for changes that included converting spaces inside and out into laboratories and hubs for ongoing scientific projects.

After crossing the Atlantic in March last year, the two “Genes” met up in New York Harbor to celebrate the launch of one of Rothberg’s latest ventures—the 58-year-old has founded no fewer than eight key tech companies in the last decade and holds over 100 patents.

One of the labs aboard Gene Chaser is an active center for scientific research.  Courtesy Damen

We caught up with both yachts at last month’s Miami International Boat Show where they were moored stern-to-stern, showcasing Amels’ and Damen Yachting’s design and construction techniques.

“They complement each other perfectly. They really show how science, business and family experiences can work together,” Moena Maggi, Damen Yachting designer told Robb Report as she took us on a tour of Gene Chaser .

Maggi explains that what the support yacht does so well is “go fast.” A quartet of Caterpillar diesels packing a combined 5,600 horsepower can punch the yacht to a top speed of 26 mph.

It also fills its role as a shadow vessel to carry Gene Machine ‘s tenders, toys and lab equipment.  Courtesy Damen

“It means she can leave port after the mothership and arrive at the next destination well ahead. And the boat is quite beautiful at speed, with that distinctive bow cutting through the waves. She’s extremely stable,” says Maggi.

Yet what makes Gene Chaser the perfect support vessel is the size and versatility of her expansive rear deck. There’s space here to land a helicopter, carry a fleet of tenders and toys, and stow a converted shipping container full of ATVs and motorbikes.

With her massive, Transformer-like, 13-ton-capacity crane extended, the yacht’s Fjord 42 tender, 28-foot OXpro AL8 landing craft, 20-foot Zodiac RIB and a fleet of jet skis can be hoisted and stowed on the deck.

Four scientists have permanent staterooms aboard Gene Chaser , with another three slated for visiting scientists.  Courtesy Damen

“The yacht usually sails with eight crew aboard, simply because it takes a lot of hands to move all those toys around and get them on and off the boat,” says Maggi.

On the same deck, the traditional workshop has been converted into an open-air laboratory and a showcase for some of Rothberg’s latest technologies.

In the Damen refit, the former main deck lounge was reconfigured into the primary laboratory and is now the nerve-center for visiting scientists. They’re accommodated in Gene Chaser’s three guest cabins with beds for eight. Below decks are also cabins for the yacht’s four fulltime scientists.

Courtesy Damen

Don’t expect lavish superyacht-style accommodations here. As Rothberg likes to describe the comfort level: “Think of Gene Machine as the Four Seasons and Gene Chaser as the Holiday Inn Express.”

According to the yacht’s chief engineer Malcolm Fordham, Gene Chaser’s real comfort comes when she’s out in bad weather. “We were in the Caribbean last year in some pretty rough conditions. What makes the boat different is that in big waves you just don’t slow down, that X-bow design just slices through the water like a knife,” said Fordham. “It takes a little getting used to, with lots of water coming over the boat, but the speed and stability is impressive.”

For the next few months, Gene Chaser will likely be shadowing Gene Machine for Rothberg family trips to the Bahamas and Caribbean, moving north to Maine and Connecticut for the summer, along the way conducting scientific experiments.

Read More On:

More marine.

This 246-Foot Electric Superyacht Concept Is Designed to Shine Like a Diamond

This New Superyacht Line Wants You to Feel Like You’re Cruising in a Sports Car

The Shipyard That Built the ‘Titanic’ Has Filed for Bankruptcy

This New Catamaran Concept Was Designed to Carry Your Bugatti Across the High Seas

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

Football Season Is Here: The 7 Best Stadiums for ‘Sailgating’ Around the U.S.

The 11 Most Exciting Superyacht Debuts at the Monaco Yacht Show

More from our brands, scarlett johansson gives old hollywood glamour contemporary edge in red saint laurent body-con dress for ‘transformers one’ london premiere, shohei ohtani worth every cent as he reaches 50/50 mark, new york magazine’s olivia nuzzi on leave for alleged ‘personal relationship’ with robert f. kennedy jr., lacma ends south los angeles project to ‘de-center’ the museum over high costs, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

• Current Projects
• Completed Projects
• Ambassadors

Matching private vessels with marine research

The goal of Yachts For Science is to bring together yacht owners and crew with marine scientists, researchers and content creators and provide access to the oceans. This is achieved by utilising the thousands of yachts that are travelling the globe as platforms for research.

Yacht owners and crew - the oceans need you!

The world’s oceans make up the largest ecosystem on Earth. They cover almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and produce half of the oxygen we breathe. Oceans regulate climate and their chemistry is vital for planetary health.

Even so, it is estimated that less than 10% of marine life has been discovered and only a fraction of the ocean floor has been mapped. This means that there is no scientific baseline for monitoring the health of the oceans which are so critical for the future of humanity.

The fundamental reason for the lack of oceanic knowledge is the difficulties that marine scientists face in gaining access to the oceans to undertake research. Traditional research vessels are often large and expensive to run, unavailable or in a different location. This is where Yachts For Science can play a part.

The goal of Yachts For Science is to bring together yacht owners and crew with marine scientists, researchers and content creators and provide access to the oceans.

This is achieved by utilising the thousands of yachts that are travelling the globe as platforms for research. These partnerships will provide the vital information required for decision-makers to bring about the protection and recovery of our oceans.

If you own, manage, or are crew aboard a vessel that could provide berths for scientists get in touch now.

No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.

Wisconsin’s historic year-round research vessel prepares for another winter on the Great Lakes

The Korean War-era Neeskay helps place buoys for scientific research and teaches students about the geology and history of the lakes

When winter descends on the Great Lakes, most boats retreat to the harbor to wait out the icy weather. But one research vessel based in Milwaukee will keep on sailing and helping scientists in the state gather valuable data.  

The Neeskay got its start more than 70 years ago as a supply vessel in the Korean War. Today, it travels Lake Michigan on various research projects for UW-Milwaukee’s School of Freshwater Sciences and other agencies. 

The ship’s captain, Maxwell Morgan, told WPR’s “ Wisconsin Today ” that the main challenge of operating through the winter is how isolated you get out on the lakes, in addition to the ice, high waves and strong winds. 

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

“When we’re going out to the mid-lake reef, which is 30-35 miles offshore, we’re the only boat out there,” he said. “The Coast Guard is miles and miles away. You really have to be careful. You really have to be ready at a moment’s notice and jump on those good days when they come around.” 

The Neeskay is in the midst of wrapping up a buoy maintenance project for the Great Lakes Observing System, or GLOSS. The buoys monitor weather conditions constantly, which scientists can then use to observe the impacts of climate change on the region. 

Morgan talked with host Kate Archer Kent about currentresearch projects, life on the Neeskay and the future of Great Lakes science. 

The following was edited for brevity and clarity. 

Kate Archer Kent: We are reaching you on the Neesaky. You’re on a hydroacoustic testing project from what I understand. Can you tell us what you see around you on the ship? 

Max Morgan: Right now, we are sitting on the anchor, or “on the hook,” as we like to call it, in the south section of the outer harbor in Milwaukee. I can see the Milwaukee skyline and all the happenings in the city. It’s nice to be out here and just watch the hustle and bustle on land. 

We’re out with a company called OceanComm, and they do hydroacoustic testing. They are looking to develop technology that can send signals through the water without using a cord. At the moment, remote-operated vehicles and anything that communicates from the ship to the water require a tether to send information. This is more like WiFi but through the water. It’s very cool. 

KAK: The ship’s first job was as an Army T boat in the Korean War. Why keep using the Neeskay as a research vessel over 50 years later? 

MM: The Neeskay has been very well taken care of and it’s had a lot of updates. It’s a stout, sturdy vessel. But it’s also pretty small, so it’s good on fuel economy and it can go in near shore, which was its purpose in the first place. It’s very diverse in the things that it can do.

We could use a little bit more classroom and laboratory space on board, so we’re looking at updating our research vessel fleet. But it has everything you could need in a laboratory. We’re getting a brand new sonar this year, which is going to be really great for underwater mapping and fish finding. 

KAK: Can you talk a little bit about the different types of projects that may occur on the ship? 

MM: I like to say that the Neeskay is a vessel of opportunity, like a jack-of-all-trades. We do a little bit of everything. We are a research vessel for the UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, so one of our main missions is to support the school. That includes supporting the professors there, their research projects and any types of experimentation they’d like to do with their grad students or anything they’d like to look at in the Great Lakes. It’s a way for them to get their feet wet, per say, and to get some hands-on experience.

KAK: One of the Neeskay’s projects is deploying buoys to measure weather patterns. How challenging are buoy deployments in the Great Lakes? 

MM: They can be very challenging for a lot of reasons. Weather basically rules all on the lakes. You’re dealing with very heavy equipment and a very complicated mooring setup. It’s very delicate, it’s very expensive and it’s very heavy. And then you have to go try and set that in a very exact spot in potentially very deep waters. It comes down to good planning, really good weather and a little bit of luck.

KAK: You’re working with different groups that are placing buoys on the Great Lakes. What data do researchers hope to get from maintaining these buoys?  

MM: The great thing about our buoys is there are multiple functions for them. One of the functions is long-term weather monitoring. So, we can monitor climate change as it goes over a long period of time and we can see what’s happening and we can compare it to older data. 

The other great thing about these buoys is the data is there for everybody. You can go on the website and access it from your phone. Any recreational or commercial mariner can click on there and see exactly what the water temperature is through the water column and down to the bottom of the lake. You can see the direction of the wind, too. All that stuff is very important to fishermen and to boaters.

Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

Related Stories

Uw-madison researchers share key takeaways about invasive species in wisconsin’s lakes.

Wisconsin’s historic carferry, the SS Badger, seeks alternative fuel sources

Wave Watch buoys aim to improve safety for boaters in the Apostle Islands

Great Lakes ice cover reaches record low for New Year’s Day

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

• Link to search page
• US: +1 (561) 833 4462
• US: +1 (206) 209-1920
• MC: +377 99 90 74 63

Expedition Yachts for Sale

For anyone looking for expedition yachts for sale, these are a quickly-growing market in the yachting world, as increasing numbers of yacht owners choose to get off the beaten track and indulge in some remote cruising! Here is the full current selection of all expedition yachts for sale worldwide with photos and full specifications for each.

Expedition yachts, often called explorer yachts, are extremely versatile. As much at home in the wilds of Alaska as sitting pretty in the glamorous port of Monaco, expedition yachts are built to cross the world’s oceans while offering the extraordinary comfort of a luxury yacht.

The explorer vessel featured above, LEGEND Expedition Yacht For Sale, is a 254-foot or 77m Icon Expedition yacht available for sale. She is the only ice breaking mega yacht in the world. The proven world cruiser features a panorama Jacuzzi on the main deck, large sales throughout, welcoming cocktail bars, Movie theaters, Exclusive Balinese Spa (pictured below) and a gym.

AKULA Expedition Yacht For Sale – for full specifications and photos, click on the link.

Expedition yachts for sale are also becoming increasingly common options for new-build construction projects, but there are also many existing expedition yachts that have been converted from commercial vessels. As such, often expedition yachts for sale have wonderful histories as research ships, hospital ships, ice-breakers, trawlers and military vessels, and are now enjoying their latest incarnation as impressive luxury yachts.

Often sporting a more functional exterior, the interior of explorer vessels are as palatial and luxurious as their traditional superyacht counterparts. Expedition-style yachts tend to have a wider beam, thereby offering more volume for larger cabins and interior spaces. The yacht’s generous interior spaces are designed for live-aboard comfort for extended periods, and many of these yachts will have living quarters or suites for the owners, rather than smaller cabins.

STAMPEDE Expedition Yacht For Sale – for full specifications and photos, click on the link.

Outside you’ll find generous open decks with elegant dining and entertaining spaces, with all the luxuries you’d expect on a superyacht.  Jacuzzis, helipads and observation decks are common features found on expedition yachts for sale.

Expedition yachts are sometimes nicknamed ‘toy carriers’, as they have plenty of space to carry the tenders and water sports equipment you’ll want as you cruise exotic places. Explorer yachts for sale often carry crew who are trained as instructors, so you might learn diving, jetski, kitesurfing or even photography while cruising the South Pacific or the Galapagos.

Because they’re built as sturdy ocean-going vessels, expedition yachts are built with a strong focus on safety, self-sufficiency and comfort underway. Some expedition yachts have reinforced ice-breaker hulls for exciting Arctic expeditions, and all have modern stabilization technology and state-of-the-art safety systems. Expedition yachts are built with large fuel tanks giving them exceptional range, while onboard water-makers and excellent cold and dry storage allows them to make long sea voyages without needing to stop for supplies. Because they are built to be away from port for long periods, expedition yachts normally carry the best in communication, entertainment and Wi-Fi capabilities.

THE BIG BLUE Expedition Yacht For Sale – for full specifications and photos, click on the link.

Expedition yachts allow the yacht owner to get to all corners of the world, opening up beautiful destinations otherwise difficult to reach. From the snowy landscapes and penguins of Antarctica to the coral reefs and jungles of Micronesia, an expedition yacht opens up the world for exploration.

There are a multitude of options available for expedition vessels. Above are examples of existing brokerage vessels. Other options to consider include Full Custom Builds and Semi Custom Builds. A Fully Custom Expedition yacht build is a ground up design and specification package, which will include tank testing of hull forms, 3D modeling, etc. A Semi Custom Expedition Build includes an existing hull form and common engineering package, already being used and then customizing the house styling, layout and décor.

The 80m Explorer Yacht, unnamed, is an example of a Fully Custom Explorer Build. The vessel includes float in float out wet dock that will be able to hold a 65-70 foot sport fisherman in the stern, when the sport fish is removed the tender well becomes a deep swimming pool.  She is diesel electric with Azipod drives.   The vessel has the capability of landing two helicopters and can house both helicopters in a single hangar.  The vessel also has a large tender garage that could hold multiple smaller vessels including a RIB, flats boat, jets skis and two submarines.  The vessel has accommodations for 18 guests and crew of 36.  The vessel would be commercial fit and finish on the exterior and the interior are envisioned to be built to high end cruise ship standards.

The 75m Explorer, by Admiral Shipyards is an example of a Semi Custom Build. The yacht’s exterior design, which remains unnamed, is a display of an elegant yet robust platform with generous exterior deck spaces. The expansive aft deck is designed to accommodate an Agusta Grande helicopter, complete with a storage and refueling hangar below deck.

The interior is spread across four decks and will be finished in a timeless nautical style that is finished with contemporary elements, which will be built and installed by German interio specialists, Fitz Interior. The owner, who is expected to spend prolonged period onboard, will be treated to an exclusive main deck area covering over 300 square metres with five additional guest suites on the lower deck.

Explorer yachts look a little bit different and offer extraordinary cruising potential, marking an exciting difference in the luxury yacht market for those who love an adventure on the open ocean. If you are be interested in viewing our full portfolio of exhibition yachts for sale, reach out to the sales team by email , by this sales inquiry form or by calling one of our yacht brokerage offices worldwide.