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Research Vessels, Equipment and Field Activities

Monmouth University operates four vessels for research and field activities: the 49-foot Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe, the 32-foot Ocean Hawk, the 27-foot Seahawk, and the 18-foot Little Hawk. The University also owns a collection of cutting-edge technologies used for measuring, mapping, and exploring subsurface features, such as shorelines and submerged obstructions. Monmouth supports vessel and field activities for:

  • Student and faculty research efforts
  • Local, state, and federal agencies
  • Consulting and engineering firms
  • NGOs and other institutions

R/V Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe

Acquired from NOAA and originally built as a Coast Guard buoy tender, the Research Vessel Heidi Lynn Sculthorpe is fully equipped to operate up to 20 nautical miles offshore. The 49-foot vessel is rigged to carry out a variety of scientific operations.

Scientific Operation Examples
  • Deployment of hydrographic survey equipment
  • Water quality sampling and monitoring
  • Trawling, dredging, and deployment of fixed gear to support near coastal fisheries research and stock assessment
  • Collection of plankton using surface and mid-water gear
  • Scientific diving operations
  • Collection of sediment cores using benthic grabs and gravity corers
  • Deployment and recovery of oceanographic buoys and moorings
Specifications
  • Length: 49 feet
  • Deck Area: 225 square feet
  • Beam: 16.8 feet
  • Draft: 5.6 Feet
  • Displacement: 35.57 long-tons
  • Max Speed: 11 knots
  • Service Speed: 10 knots
  • Range (at 10 knots): 300 nautical miles
  • Endurance: 4 days
  • Capacity: 1 captain and 22 passengers
  • Propulsion: Twin 8V-71 Detroit diesel engines @ 305 HP each
  • Power: 22 kW, 120/240 60 hertz, 120 amps
Equipment
  • Anchor Windlass: Vetus Den Ouden Alexander II
  • Main Winches: Two Pullmaster KPL8 winches
  • Wire Capacity: (1/4” Wire Rope) 684 feet
  • A-Frame: 18 feet 1 1/16” high by 144” wide. Safe working load of 1,800 lbs.
  • Net Reel: Aluminum net reel with direct drive motor. Dimensions: 72” wide by 36” diameter flange

R/V Ocean Hawk

32’ H&H Osmond is powered by a Yanmar 440 and a 3000-watt inverter for AC power. Navigation is provided by a Furuno txt-14 touchscreen display equipped with radar and a 9” Garmin. Radio communication is handled by two Standard Horizon units, one with an automatic identification system (AIS). The vessel includes one marine head and a berthing area, as well as a large aft-deck area with an abundance of rod holders and a 10-inch pot holder.

R/V Seahawk

The Seahawk is a versatile, trailerable, 27-foot fiberglass hulled survey vessel. Its cabin is equipped with heat and air conditioning and lighted for nighttime operations. The Seahawk is rigged to support a variety of scientific work including single and multibeam hydrography, subbottom profiling, side-scan sonar, ROV support, ADCP surveys, and benthic and water column sampling.

Specifications
  • Builder: Maycraft
  • Construction: Fiberglass
  • Length: 27 feet
  • Beam: 9.5 feet
  • Draft: 1.5 feet
  • Minimum Operating Depth: 2 feet
  • Registration: New Jersey #NJ 7117 HA
  • Cabin: 1.5’ x 6’ Counter Top and Shelves
  • Working deck: 11’ x 8’ (aft) with 5’ Cover
  • Propulsion: Twin Yamaha 200Hp 4 Stroke Outboards
  • Cruising Speed: 25 Knots (light)
  • Fuel capacity: 160 Gallons/tank
  • Max Capacity: 6 Passengers
  • Lifting Davits: 2 with 500lb Line Pull Winches
  • Anchor Handling: EZ-pull power up and down
  • Power: DC: 2 Group 24 Batteries|AC: 450-watt inverter
  • Wash down: 4.5 gpm pump
  • Operations: Vessel operated under CFR 46 Subchapter C in compliance with USCG regulations
Safety Equipment
  • 6 Adult life vests
  • 6 Work vests
  • 6 Adult SOLAS Approved Immersion Suits
  • 1 Life Ring with Throw Rope
  • Zodiac 6 Man Class-V Inflatable Life Raft
  • ACR 406 MHz Category II(Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon)
  • Flare Kit
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • First Aid Kit
  • Spare Parts and Tools
Navigation and Communication
  • Simrad NSE 8, Integrated DGPS Broadband Radar with Navionics chart plotter, RS-232 output
  • Furuno Autopilot
  • Furuno FCV 600 Fathometer 50/200 kHz
    0.2 feet resolution
  • Standard Horizon Spectrum Plus VHF-FM DSC radio with hailer and fog horn
  • Standard Horizon Eclipse Plus VHF-FM radio
  • Class B Dual Channel AIS Transceiver

R/V Little Hawk

The Little Hawk is a versatile, trailerable, 18-foot fiberglass hulled center console survey vessel. The Little Hawk can be rigged to support a variety of scientific work including single and multibeam hydrography, sub-bottom profiling, side-scan sonar, ADCP surveys; benthic, fisheries, and water column sampling along the coast.

Specifications
  • Builder: Parker
  • Construction: Fiberglass
  • Length: 18 feet
  • Beam: 7.5 feet
  • Draft: 1 foot
  • Minimum Operating Depth: 1.5 feet
  • Registration: New Jersey #NJ 8498 GX
  • Cabin: None, Center Console, Tee Top
  • Working deck: 6’ x 6’ (fwd)
  • Propulsion: 115Hp Yamaha 2 Stoke outboard
  • Cruising Speed: 26 Knots (light)
  • Fuel capacity: 60 Gallons/tank
  • Max Capacity: 6 Passengers
  • Power: DC: 2 Group 24 Batteries|AC: 450-watt inverter
  • Wash down: 4.5 gpm pump
  • Operations: Vessel operated under CFR 46 Subchapter C in compliance with United States Coast Guard
Safety Equipment
  • 6 Adult life vests
  • 1 Life Ring with Throw Rope
  • Flare Kit
  • Fire Extinguisher
  • First Aid Kit
  • Spare Parts and Tools
Navigation and Communication
  • Simrad NSS7 Integrated Radar, Fathometer, and C-Map chart plotter with RS-232 output
  • Magnetic compass
  • Standard Horizon Eclipse Plus DSC VHF-FM
    radio