MBARI ships and facilties images
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Monterey Canyon
Monterey Bay is one of the most biologically diverse bodies of water in the world. The Monterey Canyon, which bisects Monterey Bay, is one of the deepest underwater canyons along the continental United States. MBARI's facilities at Moss Landing are located within meters of the head of Monterey Canyon, allowing researchers to reach waters 3,600 meters deep within a few hours of leaving port. Illustration by David Fierstein.
© 2000 MBARI -
Aerial view of MBARI campus
In 1989, MBARI constructed a dock and marine operations facility at Moss Landing, a small fishing community 20 miles north of Monterey. Science, engineering, and administration facilities were added in 1995. The laboratory facilities were expanded in 2001 to include a 10-meter-deep tank used for testing equipment, sensors, and underwater vehicles. Photo by Todd Walsh
© 2007 MBARI -
Western Flyer at sea
The R/V Western Flyer steams out into the Monterey Bay heading towards La Paz, Mexico. In February 2012 MBARI returned to the Gulf of California for a 12-week-long expedition. The R/V Western Flyer is a 117-foot small water-plane area twin hull (SWATH) oceanographic research vessel. Accommodations are provided for a combination of 26 crew members and scientists in 14 staterooms located on the upper deck. Photo by Todd Walsh
© 2012 MBARI -
AUV on the aft deck
From 2001 to 2012 the R/V Zephyr operated as the primary support ship for MBARI's autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) program. One of MBARI's autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) being transported out onto Monterey Bay to measure water termperature, salinity, chlorophyll, nitrate concentrations, and other properties of the bay waters. The landmark smokestacks at the power plant in Moss Landing can be seen poking up through the fog on the horizon.
© 2004 MBARI -
Launching ROV Doc Ricketts
ROV operations are the primary mission for the R/V Western Flyer. ROV Doc Ricketts is deployed and recovered through a center well—called a “moon pool”—between the Western Flyer's two hulls. A crane lifts up the ROV and, after the moon pool accordion doors open to the sea below, the crane lowers the submersible into the water, then retrieves it following a dive. Adjacent to the moon pool, a cable-handling system controls the tension of the ROV tether. Photo by Todd Walsh
© 2009 MBARI -
R/V Rachel Carson
As part of our fleet renewal process, MBARI purchased the R/V Rachel Carson in the summer of 2011. This ship will serve as a replacement for both the R/V Zephyr and R/V Point Lobos, and will be able to launch both ROVs and AUVs, as well as conduct multi-day expeditions. The research vessel was christened Rachel Carson in honor of the famed marine biologist and conservationist. © 2011 MBARI -
ROV Doc Ricketts in the test tank
In 2001 MBARI expanded the facilities at Moss Landing to include a 10-meter-deep (35 feet) tank used for testing equipment, sensors, and underwater vehicles. The test tank holds 375,000 gallons of water and is illuminated internally by remote source fiber-optic light pipes. Photo by Todd Walsh © 2008 MBARI -
R/V Zephyr and the mapping AUV
The R/V Zephyr departs Moss Landing Harbor in July 2009 with the mapping AUV D. Allan B. on the aft deck. The Zephyr and D. Allan B. participated in the Northwest Expedition, gathering multibeam data to create maps that helped researchers aboard the Western Flyer determine the best places to explore with the ROV Doc Ricketts. Photo by John Ferreira
© 2009 MBARI -
R/V Point Lobos departs
For over 20 years, the Point Lobos was MBARI's workhorse research vessel, ferrying the ROV Ventana out of Moss Landing Harbor several times a week. During a remarkable 3,697 cruises, the Point Lobos helped researchers record thousands of hours of video, identify dozens of strange and unusual animals, and deploy hundreds of instruments in the depths of Monterey Bay. The Point Lobos was retired in December 2011.
Photo by John Ferreira © 2012 MBARI -
MBARI at low tide
MBARI maintains science, engineering, and operations facilities in Moss Landing that support laboratory experiments, technology design, and equipment manufacturing as needed for ongoing research. In 1995, MBARI completed a spacious new administration building (Building A) built to high engineering, environmental, and energy use standards. Photo by Todd Walsh © 2007 MBARI
