WHAT:           After nearly 50 years of continuous operation, the Research Vessel Endeavor will be retired from service upon completion of its final mission on Sept. 20. Owned by the National Science Foundation and operated by URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography under a Charter Party Agreement, the ship was first launched in 1975. Over the course of its career, the R/V Endeavor brought thousands of scientists, engineers, technicians, students, and teachers on more than 700 expeditions and traversed more than one million miles in support of science, with each voyage adding to its legacy.

Some of the Endeavor’s historic milestones and impactful missions are chronicled here.

FACTS:    Here are some facts and figures about the R/V Endeavor.

• Number of scientific expeditions supported: 736
• Number of days at sea: 9,600
• Number of scientists on board: 8,096
• Number of countries visited (port stops): 22 – Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ecuador, Barbados, Haiti, Canada, Iceland, Norway, France, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Monaco, Greece, Ukraine, Senegal, Namibia
• Deepest instrument deployment: 8,700 meters depth
• Longest expedition: 38 days
• Number of miles sailed: 1,030,000

More basic facts and figures about the Endeavor.

TOURS:   Tours of the R/V Endeavor will be held on Oct. 4-5, with limited availability for members of the media and the public.

• Reserve a spot on a tour

INTERVIEWS:                     

A few members of the marine operations team are available for media interviews.

• Erich Gruebel, manager, Narragansett Bay Campus Marine Scientific Services
• Brendan Thornton, port captain
• Tom Glennon, assistant port engineer and former director of marine operations

To schedule interviews or for more information, contact: Peter Hanlon, URI GSO Public Engagement, 401-874-6397, peterhanlon@uri.edu.