All American Marine (AAM) announces the delivery of a 78-foot aluminum research vessel commissioned by the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). Following successful sea trials at AAM’s Bellingham, WA facility, R/V Osprey has arrived in her home port of Wilmington, NC. There, she will support UNCW’s faculty, students, and research partners conducting scientific and educational missions along the Mid-Atlantic, U.S. East Coast, and offshore waters.
Designed by Teknicraft Design in Auckland, New Zealand, the 78’ x 26.7’ twin-engine catamaran was built and inspected to USCG Subchapter T standards. The vessel is equipped to conduct a broad range of missions — from oceanographic surveys and biological studies to hands-on educational programs for students and charters of outside agencies.
Vessel Overview
The vessel’s hydrofoil-assisted Teknicraft hull reduces drag, improves fuel efficiency, and delivers superior passenger comfort across a range of sea conditions. Twin Scania Di16-082M EPA Tier 3 engines — each rated at 800 mhp at 2100 rpm — power the vessel to a cruising speed of 22 knots, with a fuel-efficient survey operation speed of 1.5 knots and a fuel capacity of 1,500 gallons for extended endurance. Following successful sea trials, the vessel is now underway to her homeport of Wilmington, NC, where she will support UNCW’s faculty, students, and research partners on scientific and educational missions along the Mid-Atlantic, U.S. East Coast, and offshore waters.
- Advanced Scientific Equipment – A Kongsberg ADCP electronics suite and fixed WASSP multibeam system give researchers precision tools for oceanographic surveys, biological studies, and habitat mapping.
- Hydrofoil-Assisted Efficiency – Teknicraft’s proven hydrofoil-assisted catamaran hull reduces drag, improves fuel efficiency, and delivers superior passenger comfort across a range of sea conditions.
- Purpose-Built Propulsion – Twin Scania Di16-082M EPA Tier 3 engines (800 mhp at 2100 rpm, each) power a 22-knot cruising speed and a fuel-efficient 1.5-knot survey speed, backed by 1,500 gallons of fuel capacity for extended offshore missions.
- Live-Aboard Ready – Dedicated wet and dry lab spaces plus live-aboard quarters for up to 10 personnel support multi-day expeditions.
- Versatile Mission Support – Day-trip capacity for 20 passengers and full infrastructure for dive operations and the deployment and retrieval of buoys and AUVs make R/V Osprey adaptable to research, education, and outside charters.
- Built for the Long Haul – Constructed to USCG Subchapter T standards with a projected 30-year service life, R/V Osprey is engineered to support oceanographic surveys, biological studies, and hands-on marine education for decades to come.
“Delivering this vessel to UNCW represents the culmination of years of collaboration, engineering, and craftsmanship. All American Marine has extensive experience building high-quality, American-made research vessels designed to meet the demanding operational needs of scientists, crews, and academic institutions. This vessel reflects that expertise—purpose-built for advanced research, engineered for durability and reliability, and equipped to support meaningful scientific discovery for decades to come. We are exceptionally proud of the skill and dedication of our team in Bellingham and honored to deliver another world-class research vessel that will serve UNCW and the broader scientific community along the Carolina coast,” said Ron Wille, President & COO of All American Marine.
The UNCW vessel is the latest in a series of specialized research platforms constructed by AAM over the past five years, reflecting the company’s sustained investment in advanced manufacturing and mission-specific vessel design. The vessel was verified across all systems and components through rigorous sea trials before departing Bellingham.
“This vessel provides students and faculty a unique platform for interdisciplinary research and reflects UNCW’s commitment as North Carolina’s coastal university,” said Ken Halanych, Executive Director of the Center for Marine Science. “With state-of-the-art instrumentation, dedicated labs, housing, and diving infrastructure, the vessel expands our capacity to further the Center’s mission of advancing marine science and coastal stewardship. We’re grateful to All American for a collaborative and rigorous build process that delivered a vessel tailored to UNCW’s needs.”
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FAQ Section
What is R/V Osprey? R/V Osprey is a 78-foot aluminum research catamaran built by All American Marine for the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s (UNCW) Center for Marine Science, homeported in Wilmington, NC.
Who designed and built R/V Osprey? The vessel was designed by Teknicraft Design of Auckland, New Zealand, and built by All American Marine in Bellingham, WA.
What research will R/V Osprey support? R/V Osprey supports oceanographic surveys, biological studies including marine mammal monitoring and trawl net deployment, water quality and sediment sampling, and hands-on educational programs for up to 20 day-trip participants.
What scientific equipment is onboard R/V Osprey? The vessel carries a Kongsberg ADCP electronics suite and a fixed WASSP multibeam system, along with dedicated wet and dry lab spaces.
How fast is R/V Osprey and what is its range? R/V Osprey cruises at 22 knots and runs a fuel-efficient 1.5-knot survey speed, with 1,500 gallons of fuel capacity for extended offshore missions.
How many people can R/V Osprey accommodate? The vessel provides live-aboard quarters for up to 10 personnel and day-trip capacity for 20 passengers.
| Specificatons | |
|---|---|
| Length | 78′ |
| Beam | 26.7′ |
| Hull | Teknicraft Multi-Mission Research Platform |
| Engines | 2x Scania Di16-082M EPA Tier 3 |
| Rating | 800 mhp @ 2,100 rpm (each) |
| Propulsion | Twin Fixed Pitch Props |
| Speed | 22 Knots Cruise, 1.5 Knots Survey |
| Passengers | 10 Live-Aboard, 20 Day |
| Class | USCG Subchapter T |
