MBARI is beginning the next chapter in our work with the construction of a new research vessel named after our founder, David Packard. The new state-of-the-art ship, the R/V David Packard, is currently being built at Freire Shipyard in Vigo, Spain.

The ship’s exterior structure is complete, and shipbuilders transferred the R/V David Packard, into the water on October 27, 2022. Next, the Freire team will outfit the ship’s interior, transitioning their focus to the vessel’s internal science and engineering systems.

The new research ship will enable continued exploration of the deep sea, from the midnight zone—the inky depths below 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet)—to the abyssal seafloor 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) deep. As the command center for the remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts, the David Packard will allow researchers to continue exploring the deepest reaches of the Monterey Canyon and beyond. The new ship will also be capable of deploying various undersea, surface, and aerial vehicles. These robots can conduct visual and acoustic surveys, sample seawater, and map the seafloor. The ship will be 50 meters (164 feet) long and 12.8 meters (42 feet) wide with a draft of 3.7 meters (12 feet). It will support an operations crew of 12 and a science crew of 18.

For over three decades, MBARI research has revealed the astounding diversity of life deep beneath the surface. The institute’s technology innovations have provided priceless insights into the ocean’s geological, ecological, and biogeochemical processes. We look forward to welcoming the R/V David Packard into our fleet in late 2024.