Research Vessel Construction Cam

Building an Oceanographic Research Ship

This webcam documents the assembly of a Regional Class Research Vessel (RCRV), one of three next-generation ships being built for the U.S. academic research fleet. Steel sections, cranes, and scaffolding mark the vessel's steady transformation from bare hull to seagoing laboratory.

A Working Gulf Coast Shipyard

The camera overlooks an active shipbuilding yard on the Gulf Coast, where fabrication crews weld hull plating, erect superstructure, and move heavy components with dockside cranes. Every angle reveals a different stage of the build.

Following the Fleet's Newest Vessel

Once complete, the ship will support oceanographic research for universities across the country, carrying scientists and equipment far offshore. This feed lets anyone track the vessel's progress from framework to launch.