The need for a new ship
For almost 30 years our old ship, the R/V INLAND SEAS, safely and effectively extended the classroom experience for thousands of students on the San Francisco Bay. Over time, the demand for our programs has grown significantly, our program offerings have expanded, and the maintenance costs of the ship have increased. Because the Institute's ability to grow was limited by the inflexibility of the old ship and lack of available classroom space, the Institute constructed a larger and more modern vessel named the ROBERT G. BROWNLEE to honor and memorialize a long-time friend and supporter.

This ship is the first, fully functional research vessel built for the unique conditions of the San Francisco Bay and the safety of our young scientists. Based on almost three decades of experience, the ship's design  meets the educational needs of the students and enable the crew to take them to the far reaches of the Bay - from the familiar South Bay to the Sacramento River. Each region offers it's own diverse populations of fish and invertebrates which will bring variety and new discoveries to the program.

At the center of the Institute's expanded operations, the new ship will become the keystone of the programs. This new vessel has twice the learning space to accommodate up to 70 students. It will also provide access to live marine animals which are so important to the expanding land-based Shoreside and Outreach Programs. With the new ship, we expect to see 32,000 to 38,000 students participate each year through our several programs.

The new ship will provide:

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