The following is the text of a news release from Burger Boat Company:
(MANITOWOC, Wis.) — Burger Boat Company launched Arcticus, a 78-foot research vessel for the United States Geological Survey (USGS), on Friday, Aug. 29.
Arcticus replaces the 38-year-old R/V Grayling, the USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) large vessel fleet up-to-date. Arcticus will be stationed at the USGS base in Cheboygan, Mich., and incorporates modern marine standards and state-of-the-art technology to more safely and effectively conduct fisheries research.
Arcticus was designed and constructed for a 40-to-50-year service life and is capable of performing critical scientific and mission-related tasks including trawling, gill netting and using sound waves to detect fish and assess their abundance. JMS Naval Architects of Mystic, Conn., developed the preliminary design of Arcticus. For over 50 years the USGS GLSC has operated a unique and valuable deep-water fish ecology and assessment program that is the foundation for fisheries management throughout the Great Lakes.
Burger, established in 1863, is one of the world's oldest and most respected shipyards. From its shipyard in Manitowoc, Wis. Burger's craftsmen have built hundreds of high-quality vessels which can be found in ports around the world. Today, Burger continues its legacy of designing and building the finest vessels to 260 feet (80m) at its fully updated shipyard on the western shores of Lake Michigan.
