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Monitoring Vessels

We can’t imagine an Ocean Monitoring Program without boats! The City of San Diego’s two aluminum vessels are designed for science. Each vessel has an aft A-frame and side davit for lifting and lowering equipment from the deck, and an enclosed wet laboratory below deck where samples may be prepped and stored ahead of shore-based laboratory analysis and a computer station to process field collected data. Each is equipped with more than enough life jackets for the crew, a first aid kit, fire suppression system, life rings and an emergency raft.

Oceanus

The Oceanus, one of the City's monitoring vessels.

The MV Oceanus is a 48-foot mono-hull aluminum vessel owned and operated by the City since 2005. It is powered by two Caterpillar C-12, 454 hp diesel engines , a hydraulic bow thruster, and electrical power is provided by a 21.5 kW Caterpillar C-2.2 generator. The Oceanus is equipped with a 13 ft A-frame and four hydraulic winches: an aft deck trawl winch with 5,000 feet of ¼ inch wire rope, which can bear a load of 1,280 lbs.; a starboard, midship davit winch with 750 feet of ¼ inch wire rope; a live-wire winch equipped with 1,000 feet of 3/16 inch galvanized steel-reinforced conducting cable which can bear a load of 2,000 lbs. ; a bow winch with 600 feet of synthetic line.

Monitor III

A side profile of the Monitor III, one of the City's monitoring vessels.

Smaller and a bit slower than the Oceanus, the MV Monitor III has provided faithful service to the City since 1984. At 42 ft, this vessel is powered by two Caterpillar 3126, 350 hp diesel engines, and electrical power is provided by a 13.5 kW Caterpillar C1.5 generator. The Monitor III is equipped with three hydraulic winches: an aft deck trawl winch with 2,000 feet of wire rope; a starboard, midship davit winch with 750 feet of ¼ inch stainless steel wire rope; and a live-wire winch equipped with 750 feet of 3/16-inch of galvanized steel reinforced conducting cable.