New 38-foot teaching and research vessel arrives for UH Hilo’s marine science program
The new workboat significantly expands UH Hilo’s place-based marine science training and research, allowing offshore and nearshore fieldwork for both students and researchers, including coral reef monitoring, water-quality surveys, coastal mapping, and oceanographic sampling.
By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.
A new teaching and research vessel has arrived in Hilo for use as an ocean laboratory and more for the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s marine science department. The aluminum workboat, named Kaiola (sealife), arrived from Oregon last week and is currently in final outfitting and inspection stages before entering the water for operations.
“The new marine science vessel is a 38-foot North River Sounder, a class of aluminum workboat designed specifically for scientific, environmental monitoring, and coastal operations in high-energy conditions,” says John Burns, associate professor and chair of the marine science department.
“We selected this platform because it provides a stable, shallow-draft, highly maneuverable work deck suitable for diving, instrument deployment, and nearshore research around Hawaiʻi Island. The Sounder configuration is widely used by agencies and research programs working in exposed coastal environments similar to Hawaiʻi,” he says.
Exceptionally durable vessel material: marine-grade aluminum
The hull is all welded marine-grade aluminum. Burns explains that aluminum workboats are preferred for research and field operations because they are exceptionally durable, corrosion resistant in saltwater, lighter than fiberglass for the same strength, and able to withstand frequent beach landings, equipment handling, and heavy use with minimal structural degradation.
“This durability is critical for a teaching and research vessel that will operate year-round in dynamic coastal conditions and remote locations,” he says.
Teaching and research configuration for a multi-purpose coastal research platform
The vessel is currently being configured as a multi-purpose coastal research platform.
“The large open aft deck and integrated mounting points allow us to safely deploy and recover scientific equipment such as water and sediment samplers, underwater cameras, water-quality sensors, acoustic or mapping instruments, and oceanographic buoys,” explains Burns. “Interior cabin space provides electronic capacity to support navigation, computing, and real-time data processing.”
The layout also supports dive operations and student training, with boarding access, washdown systems, and equipment storage integrated into the deck design.
For students: hands-on experience with real research equipment
The new vessel significantly expands UH Hilo’s ability to conduct place-based marine science training and research. It will allow students to participate directly in offshore and nearshore fieldwork including coral reef monitoring, water-quality surveys, coastal mapping, and oceanographic sampling.
“It also enables access to sites that were previously difficult or unsafe to reach with smaller vessels, supporting both coursework and funded research across Hawaiʻi Island and neighboring islands,” says Burns. “For students, this means more hands-on experience with real research equipment, data collection, and marine operations, which are core skills for careers in marine science and ocean stewardship.”
Story by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.
