R/V Elaka

(Elakha: "Sea Otter" in Chinook jargon)

The R/V Elaka was constructed under the specifications of PISCO personnel and others at Oregon State University in 2000 by Rozema Boat Works, Mt. Vernon, WA. It was dedicated on 31 August 2000. Elakha is a versatile, multipurpose vessel, and is used by PISCO for a wide range of activities. These include: mooring and ADCP deployment, servicing, and recovery; towing of water sampling instrument packages mounted on "flying" vehicles (MiniBat, AcroBat, SeaSoar); subtidal diving surveys of kelp and fish populations; diving to deploy sampling equipment (SMURFs); and more traditional water sampling, including Niskin bottles, oxygen sensing, CTD casts, and fluorometry. The Elakha was purchased with PISCO funds, and in exchange for priority in scheduling, placed under the control of College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences (COAS) ship operations at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. COAS now staffs and maintains the vessel, and administers its use.

Vessel specifications:

R/V Elahka has a documented length of 54 feet and a beam of 16.5 feet. Its net displacement weight is 54,000 pounds when fully loaded with a draft of 5 feet. The vessel is powered by a 600-horsepower diesel engine. It cruises at 10 knots in moderate seas with a fuel consumption of about 8 gallons per hour (exclusive of generator use). Its range is 575 miles, and its maximum endurance is 72 hours. Scientific capabilities include a 2,000-pound-capacity A-frame and winch, and a flow-through water sampling system. The boat has a small laboratory area, berthing for four, and a galley.

Visit the COAS website to learn more about the R/V Elahka.

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