Oceangoing Vessels

Serving education.

Practical marine education and research opportunities require access to the water. Ocean going vessels will allow us to reach a full range of marine areas to study and share learning around marine ecological conditions and restoration efforts. Beyond their "floating research lab" function, ships provide an environment well suited to onboard educational presentations, classes, film screenings and film-making. These will provide exciting educational experiences rich in coastal heritage and culture.

Serving collaboration.

Serving our partners in marine education, community development and restoration will be a central theme for our ocean going vessels. We will continually develop innovative partnerships to help citizens, organizations, educators and government as they work to support thriving marine ecosystems and communities. Both in dock and at sea there is tremendous latent potential for groups including schoolchildren, outreach network facilities, First Nations, locals and tourists.

Serving restoration.

The focal point of all our activities will be restoration of marine ecosystem function. Effective, hands-on solutions to overfishing, pollution, habitat loss and climate change will require direct access to marine regions. Examples activities range from disaster response and cleanup (e.g. oil spills) to restoration of native species in intertidal marine ecosystems or remote spawning streams.

All aboard!

Our hard work to secure the first of our oceangoing vessels is paying off. We have selected our first oceangoing vessel, a ship with a significant cultural heritage well known to the coast of British Columbia.

The MV Tyee Princess.

Built in 1945 by the US Navy in Pennsylvania, the Tyee Princess spent most of her first 35 years in freshwater docks near San Diego. As the 1980's drew near, she began serving BC's coastal communities as a fish packer and freight-runner for Coast Ferries until 1997. Long a familiar feature in the Pacific Northwest, she is now preparing for a new career as a flagship for marine restoration that will benefit many of these same communities.