9531894 Carignan The R/V BLUE FIN is used primarily to support research programs in biological, physical and chemical oceanography on the S.E. Continental Shelf between Capes Hatteras and Canaveral. The Blue Fin is a 72' general purpose research vessel owned and operated by Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. The vessel is scheduled for 140 operational days in 1996, all are in support of NSF-sponsored research. The BLUE FIN is part of a fleet of ships used by the National Science Foundation in support of marine science. Most oceanographic projects require highly specialized equipment and extensive support from highly trained crew members. Increasingly, research projects require equipment which must be permanently installed on the vessel, thus requiring specialized vessels. These vessels do not operate the same as general cargo/fishing vessels, as a result NSF supports the operation of a variety of vessels specifically dedicated to oceanographic research that are operated by universities and research institutes around the country. ***
