Enlarge image
	WHOI employees, donors, and shipyard workers gathered March 29 for the launch. (Photo by Tom Kleindinst, WHOI Graphic Services)
	Related Multimedia
	Photos from the launch and arrival of R/V Tioga » View Slideshow
	Related Links
	» R/V Tioga

Four years ago, WHOI Vice President for Marine Operations Dick Pittenger and Senior Scientist Rocky Geyer crossed paths while walking through Woods Hole village and talked about bringing a new vessel to WHOI for coastal research. Through their dedication, as well as generous outside donations, on April 16 WHOI welcomed the 60-foot, $1.6 million coastal research vessel Tioga.

During its first nine months of operation 456 people traveled on Tioga, including scientists and students who tagged whales, collected water samples, deployed prototype instruments for testing, and gathered data about coastal larvae, sediment, currents, water temperatures, and depth.