Fleet Research Vessels
The most exciting scientific discoveries happen on the magnificent body of water right outside our door.
Students, faculty, and scientists use the R/V Neeskay. They also rely on small boats, remote-controlled vehicles, and a buoy system. Together, these tools help them study Lake Michigan鈥檚 life and health.
Neeskay Research Vessel
The only year-round research vessel on the Great Lakes.
The Great Lakes are our living lab. We operate the only research vessel that explores these inland seas all year. Its name comes from the Ho-Chunk language, a Native American tribe in Wisconsin. It means 鈥減ure, clean water鈥濃�攐ur vision for the Great Lakes.
Before the Neeskay became a research vessel, it was an Army T-boat. It served in the Korean War for tug and transport duties. Since 1970, it has powered scientific expeditions around the lakes. The Neeskay helps 51猎奇 students, faculty, and scientists answer key questions for managing this vital resource.
Our Year-Round Freshwater LaboratoryBoats and Small Craft
A fleet of small boats for short research trips.
The research fleet ranges from a 26-foot Osprey used for short trips on Lake Michigan to small inflatable vessels used in fieldwork on inland lakes and rivers. Our underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can descend to a depth of 1,000 feet and is equipped with a camera, a suction device for collecting samples, and sensors for collecting sensitive data like temperature, oxygen, pH and conductivity. The ROV can also shock fish for surveys and collect cores of soft sediment.
Great Lakes Observation System
We rely on real-time sensors to monitor Lake Michigan.
As partners in the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), we have access to a variety of instrumented buoys, surface vessel observing systems and autonomous vehicles that collect important physical, chemical and biological data that tell us about the health of the lake. To obtain long-term data and track trends in climate and ecological impacts, GLOS sensor arrays are deployed on solar-powered buoys at fixed locations throughout the Great Lakes.