FAQs

What is Tioga?

Tioga is an aluminum-hulled coastal research vessel that serves oceanographers working in waters off New England and throughout the northeastern United States.

How does a coastal research vessel differ from other types of research vessels?

As the name implies, a coastal research vessel is designed and outfitted for oceanographic work close to shore, so it is typically smaller and faster than large ships. Tioga, the newest member of the fleet at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, measures 60 feet and cruises at 17 knots.

Large oceanographic vessels are slower than Tioga. For example, R/V Atlantis measures 274 feet and travels about 11 knots. Speed allows Tioga to operate in narrower weather windows, meaning that, when faced with an approaching storm, the vessel can quickly go out to sea, complete research, and make it back before the wind and rain.

Two crew members - a captain and a first mate - are required to operate the vessel, while the larger ships at WHOI need between 12 and 25 crew members for operation. Less shore support is required to operate Tioga, and the vessel also occupies less space at the dock.

How is the vessel similar to the larger research ships?

Size and speed are the obvious differences, but in many ways coastal research vessels like Tioga operate much like larger oceanographic research ships. It carries ocean research instruments such as a CTD (for conductivity, temperature, and depth), an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, and an echo-sounder, used by scientists to conduct seafloor surveys It has two winches, one with electrical wires to collect real-time data connected to towed underwater instruments. The other is equipped with wire cable used to hoist equipment over the side and haul it on board. Large instruments like buoys can be put into the water using the stern A-frame, which is similar in size to those on WHOI's large ships.

What are the vessel's specifications?

Who designed and built the vessel?

What does the name Tioga mean?

How do scientists use the vessel?

Tioga enables scientists to conduct research on a variety of topics, from marine mammals and harmful algal blooms to coastal erosion, storms, and oil spills. Since its delivery to Woods Hole on April 16, 2004, Tioga has been used to collect water samples, recover a glider, deploy instruments, tag right whales, and for several student education cruises. It has made several visits to the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory for maintenance on the climate observatory and for diver operations.