Oceanus was built in 1975 by Peterson Builders Inc of Sturgeon Bay, WI, and was designed by John W. Gilbert Assoc., Inc., Boston for University-National Oceanographic Laboratories System (UNOLS).
Oceanus arrived in Woods Hole in November of 1975. The vessel is owned by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by WHOI. She has worked extensively in the Atlantic on a variety of biological, chemical, geological, physical, and engineering cruises.
In 1994 Oceanus underwent an extensive 8 month mid-life refit at Atlantic Drydock in Jacksonville, Florida. The NSF provided a grant for the $3.5 million project to refit and upgrade the vessel'’s technology, equipment, and laboratories.
Sister ships: Wecoma, operated by Oregon State University, and Endeavor, operated by the University of Rhode Island.
Length:
177'
Beam:
33'
Displacement:
960 tons
Draft:
17'6"
Range:
7000 mi
Endurance:
30 days
Cruising Speed:
11 kts
Science Complement:
15
Crew Complement:
12
Dates of Afflliation with WHOI:
1975/2011
Built:
1975
Builder:
Peterson Builders Inc., Sturgeon Bay, WI
Designer:
John W. Gilbert Assoc., Inc.
Owner:
NSF
ICES Code:
32OC
Ship ID:
OC
Operator:
WHOI