9625683 HANSELL WEATHERBIRD II is a general purpose research vessel owned and operated by the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc. The 1996 schedule for R/V WBII has a total of 170 operating days, of which 148 are in support of NSF-sponsored research. The vessel operates mainly off the coast of Bermuda. Bermuda is the site of one of the two U.S. JGOFS funded time- series stations, the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS). This program is scheduled for 99 days and is in the third year of a five year program. Additional programs conduct research on an ancillary basis on the BATS cruises. In addition to BATS the WBII will support the biweekly Hydrostation S sampling program, which has been conducted for the past 40 years. The WBII is part of the UNOLS fleet that supports oceanographic research. These vessels do not operate in the same manner as general cargo or fishing vessels. NSF supports the operation of a variety of these vessels specifically dedicated to oceanographic research and operated by universities and research institutes around the country.
