RV Sikuliaq V16

The 261 foot R/V Sikuliaq, pronounced [see-KOO-lee-auk], is an oceanographic research ship that is part of the UNOLS fleet.The vessel is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The ship has room for up to 26 scientists.

The Skiuliaq was especially designed to allow scientists to work in the icy waters of Alaska and the polar regions. It is able to break ice up to 2.5 feet thick. It is used by the U.S. and the international oceanographic community to do a variety of work including collect sediment samples directly from the seafloor, host remotely operate vehicles, and conduct surveys throughout the water column and sea bottom using various sophisticated research instrumentation. A unique factor of the ship's design is that it strives to have the lowest possible environmental impact, including a low underwater radiated noise signature so that it can do marine mammal and fisheries work. 

During the VISIONS'16  expedition, many tons of equipiment will loaded onto the Sikuliaq's aft deck. The gear includes the remotely operated vehicle Jason, junction boxes, instruments, and, specialized winches for depolying the deep and shallow profiler systems and their associated seafloor instrument packages. 

Visit the R/V Sikuliaq's homepage for more information on the research vessel.