On Thursday, July 20, 2023, ̽̽’s new, state-of-the-art research vessel departed New York City. Captained by Taylor Resnick, Interim Research Vessel Captain, the journey took four days and required extensive planning and coordination along the way.
The Marcelle Melosira is a research and teaching vessel operated by the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at ̽̽. The vessel was designed by Chartwell Marine in Southampton, UK and built by Derecktor Shipyards in Mamaroneck, N.Y. The launch and arrival of the vessel in Vermont has been years in the making.
“We have been waiting for all of the necessary conditions to fall into place and we’re thrilled to finally be underway,” said Resnick. “Setting out from New York was a momentous occasion. We traveled under the Brooklyn Bridge and passed by the Statue of Liberty under clear blue skies.”
The R/V Marcelle Melosira is named in honor of Marcelle Leahy, the spouse of former Senator Patrick Leahy, and in recognition of the previous ̽̽ research vessel the R/V Melosira.
The new boat runs on a Hybrigen® propulsion system engineered by BAE Systems. This diesel-electric hybrid system features two electric motors, lithium-ion batteries, and two 306-horsepower Cummins diesel generators. The vessel boasts a custom catamaran hull construction designed to minimize resistance on the hull and ensure stability in windy conditions.
The hybrid-electric technology onboard the vessel aligns with ̽̽'s environmental sustainability goals. It is able to run on all-electric power for trips up to three hours and will operate with reduced vibration, noise, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the course of four days, the R/V Marcelle Melosira traveled from Mamaroneck, NY to Kingston, N.Y. then on to Fort Edward, N.Y. where it entered the Champlain Canal, a narrow 60-mile waterway that connects the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. The canal comprises eleven locks that the research vessel crew had to navigate carefully.
Upon reaching the final lock in Whitehall, N.Y., the Marcelle Melosira entered Lake Champlain on Sunday, July 23, 2023. It passed under the Lake Champlain bridge on its final leg and finally arrived in downtown Burlington that evening.
The vessel’s home dock is at the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain on the Burlington waterfront, where it will be used for limnological, fisheries, and geophysical research. It will host public outreach trips with partner organizations, including many educational trips for regional K-12 schools. The research vessel can accommodate up to 29 passengers and three crewmembers, a 10-person capacity upgrade over the previous vessel.
“The research vessel is an incredible resource for our students, community partners, and researchers,” said Jason Stockwell, Director of the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory. “With increased capacity, state-of-the-art equipment, and an improved classroom environment onboard, the Marcelle Melosira greatly enhances our ability to do impactful research and education.”
The R/V Marcelle Melosira features a modular laboratory classroom that can easily be reconfigured to support evolving scientific and teaching needs. A first-of-its-kind electric winch, designed by engineers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is located on the topside deck and is essential for deploying scientific instrumentation such as water column profilers, camera systems, and plankton nets.
An ADA-compliant boarding and access dock is offered to everyone who comes aboard the vessel. On-board ramps are available upon request. The laboratory classroom, main deck, and lavatory are all wheelchair-accessible spaces.
In the next two weeks, the boat will undergo a final inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard in Burlington, V.T., at which point a busy summer and fall schedule of research and educational trips will begin.
“We’re thrilled to have the new vessel onsite as we prepare to welcome students back to campus in late August,” said Allan Strong, Interim Dean of the Rubenstein School. “There are countless people who have been instrumental in this project, from designing and building to managing complex logistics and regulatory details to providing crucial funding. We are grateful for the collective effort that will pay off in learning experiences and research for years to come.”
The R/V Marcelle Melosira, other ̽̽ research vessels, and projects in the Lake Champlain watershed are high priorities for federal, regional, and philanthropic partners. Significant funding for specific projects and for the upkeep and operation of the fleet comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the estate of alumnus F. Peter Rose ’54, and former Senator Patrick Leahy (pictured above with wife Marcelle Leahy).
Images by Cody Silfies, ̽̽, the ̽̽ Spatial Analysis Lab, and Caleb Kenna Photography.