The R/V Calanus was designed and built in 1970 for services as a shallow draft research vessel for use along the Bahamas' Reefs and the Florida Keys. When commissioned on September of 1970, trhe R/V CALANUS was 62 ft. long with a beam of 20 feet and an operating draft of 4'6". In 1986, the R/V CALANUS was lengthened to 67 ft. by the addition of a stern section. In 1987, a wet lab was added to the back of the dry lab and mess area, twin exhaust stacks, deck crane, stern "A" frame and other lesser items which increased the draft to 5'6". Two permanently installed hydraulically operated winches, one conductor and one hydrographic, are located on the aft end of the deck house.
Communication outfit consists of a Thrane & Thrane Inmarsat Standard C system with telex capabilities, a cellular telephone with voice and facsimile (FAX) capabilities, two HF SSB transceivers, and two VHF transceivers. Navigation systems consist fo a Magnavox MX 200 GPS, a Magnavox MX 4102 Satellite Navigator, two Northstar 7000 Loran C's, Sperry SRD 331 Doppler Speed Log, Sperry MK 130 Gyro, and a Robertson AP 45 Autopilot which are integrated with the GPS system.
Laboratory areas incorporate modular lab benches and uni-strut bulkheads. Scientific power is furnished by a BEST-F3KVA-B 115 VAC uninterruptible power source. A 12 kHz hull mounted transducer with a Raytheon precision depth recorder system is available. Uncontaminated seawater is available in the wet and dry labs.
The starboard side is the working side and is clear of all active overboard discharge.