Research Vessel Under Construction for Cape Fear Community College
A 26-metre research vessel designed by Incat Crowther for the Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) in Wilmington, North Carolina, is now under construction at Midship Marine’s Louisiana shipyard.The new vessel boasts a robust aluminium structure allowing it to be used by CFCC’s Marine Technology program for extended multi-day and week-long on-water research and education activities throughout the Cape Fear River system and up to 100 nautical miles offshore.Operational flexibility…
Researchers Return to Queen Anne’s Revenge Site
Many unknown treasures and concretion-encased surprises await researchers on the wreck of Blackbeard’s flagship, Queen Anne’s Revenge (QAR), near Beaufort. Part two of this year’s dive season resumed this week, and the plan is to recover artifacts from 60 five-foot by five-foot units by October 31. After nearly 300 years on the sea floor, the artifacts often are locked in a concrete-like crust of sand, shells and marine life that is removed during the conservation process. This summer’s earlier dive ended in mid-June with the recovery of two eight-foot cannons.
Budget Cuts Threaten Marine Tech Program
Cape Fear Community College is sending out an S.O.S. to state lawmakers for the future of its Marine Technology program, one of the college’s oldest and most successful two-year job-training programs. In January 2009, Cape Fear Community College was informed by the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges that state funding for CFCC’s Marine Technology ship operations may be eliminated, effective fiscal year 2009 - 2010. The $571,000 in proposed cuts would eliminate funding for maintenance, fuel, repairs, and supplies on the college’s 85 ft ocean-going research vessel, the R/V Dan Moore. Additionally, these funds support the costs associated with the 53 ft R/V Martech and the fleet of small boats.
