Neeskay vessel

The R/V Neeskay offers students, faculty and scientists throughout the region the ability to study Lake Michigan year-round.

The Neeskay’s research capabilities include a full range of wet and dry lab facilities for chemical, physical, biological and geological sampling and analysis, including Seabird CTD profiler, hydrographic casts, current meter deployment, surface water temperature chart recorder, vertical and horizontal net tows, trawling, dredging, box coring and sediment sampling. The Neeskay is also equipped for support of scuba-assisted research and small ROV operations.

Contact Information

For information on rates or for scheduling information: 

Rob Paddock
Facilities and Marine Operations Manager

Length71feet
Captain Max Morgan
Draft8feet
Official512553Number
Built1953Higgins Inc.
Weight75Gross tons
Beam18feet

Detailed Specifications

Research Capabilities

  • Full range of wet and dry lab facilities for chemical, physical, biological and geological sampling and analysis including:
    • Seabird CTD profiler
    • Current meter deployment
    • Surface water temperature chart recorder
    • Vertical and horizontal net tows
    • Trawling
    • Box coring, multi-core, and single core sampling
    • Ekman, PONAR, and Skipek dredges
  • Additionally, the Neeskay is equipped for support of SCUBA-assisted research and is used as a platform for ROV/AUV operations:
    • University-approved SCUBA dive program
    • Small, Blue ROV2 (Blue Robotics) for observations (Benthos), water and bottom sampling. Depth range 500m.

Propulsion Machinery

  • Single 340 HP Detroit Diesel 12 cylinder 71 series engine
  • Twin Disc 514-M marine gear with 3 to 1 reduction with trolling valve control
  • Propeller diameter 42″, shaft diameter 4″

Navigation/Electronics

  • 72 mile Furuno radar
  • KVH Azimuth 314 AC fluxgate compass
  • Sperry Mk 27 gyro-compass with autopilot
  • Two VHF-FM radio telephones (call sign WY8293)
  • Northstar 951XD DGPS system with electronic charts
  • Timezero Navigation software and chart plotter
  • Furuno Universal AIS Transponder
  • Furuno depth sounder: 200kHz and 50kHz
  • Hummingbird Helix 9 side-scan sonar
  • Two transducers 8 degrees and 20 degrees
  • Attachable transducer arm for research sonar and tracking sensors

Winches and Equipment

  • Forward deck
    • One Gearmatic hydraulic anchor winch with 733 meters (2,200′) of 3/8″ cable
    • Vertical Ideal Windlass with Wildcat
    • One HIAB articulated hydraulic crane
    • One Otis Oceanographic hydraulic winch with free fall capability and 460 meters (1,500′) of 1/4″ conducting cable with sliprin, with General Oceanics Payout Meter
    • One aluminum A-frame with maximum load capacity of 2,000 pounds.
  • Aft deck
    • One Lantec two-speed hydraulic winch with free fall capability and 400 meters (1,300′) of 1/4″ cable
    • One Lantec single-speed high power hydraulic winch with 400 meters (1,300′) of 1/4″ cable
  • Hydraulic ram gallows frame on stern with 4-meter (12′) clearance under frame and 1-meter (3′) swing clearance over stern, maximum load capacity of 2,000 pounds.

Generator

  • One Northern Lights 45One Northern Lights 45 kw, 110/220 volt, single phase generator.
  • One Northern Lights 20 kw, 83 amp 110/220 volt single phase generator
  • One 11.7 amp uninterruptible power system

Stats

Length:71 feet (21.6 meters)
Beam:17’8″ (5.4 meters)
Draft:8 feet (2.4 meters)
Tonnage:Displacement 62.6 tons; Gross tonnage 75 tons
Hull:Steel mono hull design. Vessel has six water-tight compartments with bilge alarm system, and bilge keels to reduce rolling effects from sea.
Official Number:512553
Built: 1953 Higgins Inc., New Orleans, LA, USA
Converted:1970 Peterson Builders Inc., Sturgeon Bay, WI; 1984 2-meter (6′) aft extension and gantry system, Hanna Marine, Lamont IL
Speed:2.5 knots trolling control, 9.5 knots cruising, 10.5 knots maximum
Range:750 nautical miles (1,400 km)
Endurance: Seven days as day boat with meals served
Licenses: Maxwell Morgan – 100T Master Great Lakes, Inland, and Near Coastal, Ordinary Seaman. Eight years- head marine tech-US EPA R/V Lake Guardian. Five years-commercial fishing vessels in North Atlantic. Over 3,000 days at sea.

Crew

  • Captain Max Morgan
  • Mate/Engineer

Habitat

Full galley facilities include 2 food refrigerator/freezers, 2 science refrigerators, 1 science freezer, convection microwave oven, electric countertop stove and grill, coffee, tea, air fryer and crockpot.
Two toilets, 6 bunks, and boiler and electric heat.

Safety Equipment

  • Two 8-person and one 6-person SOLAS-approved Elliot inflatable life rafts
  • Category I 406 EPIRB
  • 20 survival suits
  • Heart Start AED defibrillator
  • Complete M.O.B. emergency equipment
  • Halon automatic engine room fire suppression system and manual fire extinguishers.
  • Complete custom-designed vessel alarm system including smoke, fire, flooding, and AC/DC detection
  • SOLAS signaling equipment
  • Emergency lighting and DC power supply
  • Three independent dewatering systems, including one 220 VAC bilge pump, one 24 VDC bilge pump, one hydraulic bilge pump with 140 GPM capacity, and one portable diesel powered dewatering pump
  • The crew of the Neeskay is trained in first aid, EAD and CPR