A new 65' vessel is being built as a sister ship to the highly successful R/V Shearwater working in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in southern California. This vessel will be home ported in Monterey, but will serve the adjacent Sanctuaries of Central California.

This catamaran will be nearly identical to the Shearwater in layout, although slightly longer to handle a reconfiguration of the Markey oceanographic winch. A state-of-the-art Nitrox dive air system will be installed which will provide added safety for NOAA divers and scientists. Additional upgrades in electronics and scientific equipment will be installed on this vessel as well.

The Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries are part of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program who's mission is to serve as the trustee for the nation's system of marine protected areas, to conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural legacy.