Our research vessel, the Neeskay, just arrived back from its regular inspection. She has been repainted and repaired for the next season. It’s looking great for some winter projects on the mid-lake reef in Lake Michigan. A lot is unknown about what happens in the lake in the winter, so this work is very important. Nice to have the Neeskay back in operations!
For the past two months, the Neeskay has been at Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It was undergoing an intense 5-year maintenance and inspection. Overall, the Neeskay is in good health and is safe to brave Lake Michigan.
Maintenance included an ultrasound testing the thickness of the hull, which came back with no issues. It also included an inspection of the shaft, which had a slight bend and was straightened. They also gave her a shiny new coat of paint in UWM Panther colors! A few upgrades include a port side door replaced with a watertight Dutch door, replacement of hydraulic lines, and new sonar! A journey through icy waters brought the Neeskay home to Milwaukee and we can’t wait to show her off!
As Captain Max and the crew go out on future projects, we will share more stories and updates of how the Neeskay is helping our school advance our water, ecosystem and climate science research.
