Research vessel Osprey to UNCW will support oceanographic research, biological studies and student training along the U.S. East Coast
All American Marine (AAM) has delivered a new 78ft aluminum research vessel to the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), with the R/V Osprey now heading toward her home port in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Following successful sea trials at AAM’s facility in Bellingham, Washington, the vessel has arrived in Florida and is making her way north along the U.S. East Coast. Once operational, R/V Osprey will support UNCW faculty, students and research partners on scientific and educational missions across the Mid-Atlantic, the U.S. East Coast and offshore waters.
Designed by Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand, the 73’ x 26.7’ twin-engine catamaran was built and inspected to USCG Subchapter T standards. The vessel is equipped to conduct a broad range of missions — from oceanographic surveys and biological studies to hands-on educational programs for students and charters of outside agencies.
The vessel’s hydrofoil-assisted Teknicraft hull reduces drag, improves fuel efficiency, and delivers superior passenger comfort across a range of sea conditions. Twin Scania Di16-082M EPA Tier 3 engines — each rated at 800 mhp at 2100 rpm — power the vessel to a cruising speed of 22 knots, with a fuel-efficient survey operation speed of 1.5 knots and a fuel capacity of 1,500 gallons for extended endurance.
Onboard Scientific equipment includes a Kongsberg ADCP electronics suite and a fixed WASSP multibeam system, enabling comprehensive oceanographic and biological data collection. The vessel features dedicated wet and dry lab spaces, live-aboard quarters for up to 10 personnel, day-trip capacity for 20 passengers, and full infrastructure to support dive operations and the deployment and retrieval of oceanographic equipment, such as buoys and AUVs.
The vessel will support a wide range of scientific missions over its projected 30-year service life, including:
- Oceanographic Surveys: Conducting multibeam side scan, magnetometer, and sub-bottom profiler surveys, as well as deploying oceanographic instrumentation and moorings.
- Biological Studies: Facilitating marine mammal monitoring, deploying trawl nets, and conducting water quality and sediment sampling.
- Educational Outreach: Engaging students and faculty and other researchers in marine science through hands-on educational programs, supporting up to 20 participants on day trips.
“Delivering this vessel to UNCW represents the culmination of years of collaboration, engineering, and craftsmanship. All American Marine has extensive experience building high-quality, American-made research vessels designed to meet the demanding operational needs of scientists, crews, and academic institutions. This vessel reflects that expertise—purpose-built for advanced research, engineered for durability and reliability, and equipped to support meaningful scientific discovery for decades to come. We are exceptionally proud of the skill and dedication of our team in Bellingham and honored to deliver another world-class research vessel that will serve UNCW and the broader scientific community along the Carolina coast,” said Ron Wille, President & COO of All American Marine.
The UNCW vessel is the latest in a series of specialized research platforms constructed by AAM over the past five years, reflecting the company’s sustained investment in advanced manufacturing and mission-specific vessel design. The vessel was verified across all systems and components through rigorous sea trials before departing Bellingham.
“This vessel provides students and faculty a unique platform for interdisciplinary research and reflects UNCW’s commitment as North Carolina’s coastal university,” said Ken Halanych, Executive Director of the Center for Marine Science. “Withstate-of-the-art instrumentation, dedicated labs, housing, and diving infrastructure, the vessel expands our capacity to further the Center’s mission of advancing marine science and coastal stewardship. We’re grateful to All American for a collaborative and rigorous build process that delivered a vessel tailored to UNCW’s needs.”
