Research Vessels

The PIER research vessels are the platform for the many field research projects currently undertaken by the PIER research team. 

R/V Malolo

The Malolo is PIER’s primary research platform. The vessel is a 46’ Newton built in Slidell, Louisiana in 2001. It is powered by twin 375 horsepower John Deere turbocharged diesels and a Northern Lights 20 kW generator.

The Malolo is fully equipped for the many field projects carried out by PIER researchers with:     

  • 18’ swordfish plank
  • 210 cubic foot shark diving cage (stored on land when not in use)
  • High pressure Masterline Air Systems compressor
  • Aluminum davit with 500 pound winch
  • 1100 foot umbilical to power the ROV (Tobiko)
  • Side scan sonar
  • Integrated Furuno Navnet navigation system (radar, GPS, up-and-down sonar)

The Malolo has been instrumental in the tagging of striped marlin, swordfish, bluefin tuna, white seabass, giant sea bass and white sharks. The Malolo is also the workhorse of the large acoustic tagging project in the Channel Islands where it is used for both SCUBA and ROV operations.  The vessel is equipped for extended field activities and is capable of sleeping five comfortably. The Malolo is outfitted with the latest technology, with both computer and video capabilities for the different field operations.

Volador

PIER’s newest vessel operates out of PIER’s Field Station in Golfito, Costa Rica. The Volador is a 45’ Cabo sportfisher, equipped with twin 1100 horsepower Caterpillar turbocharged diesel engines. The Volador will be used to stage the tagging operations for large pelagic fishes off the central eastern Pacific as well as reef fish projects in the Pacific and Caribbean.

18’ Boston Whaler

The PIER 18’ Boston Whaler is used primarily for near-shore operations. It is powered by a 175 horsepower Yamaha outboard and equipped with a GPS and bottom reader. The whaler has been recently used to actively track mako and thresher sharks off the coast of Oceanside. 

Tobiko

Onboard Malolois Tobiko,a Sea-Wolf modular-design, light-work class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) built by Shark Marine (Ontario, Canada). Tobiko is powered via an 1100-foot umbilical connected to Malolo and is equipped with:

  • Four 1-horsepower thrusters
  • Ultra low-light color or black & white camera
  • Two 250-watt quartz lights
  • Multi-function manipulator arm, with cutting capability
  • VLT-1 (for locating and communicating with ARC-1 acoustic releases)

Tobiko remotely operated vehicle (ROV)