Exotics 9

As she leaves for the North Sea port of Hull, finally .  .

I caught Ocean Researcher.  She’s spent much of the summer and fall until now doing survey work in advance of wind farm leasing and development in the New York Bight.

Seeing the vessel confirmed that she’s not a new vessel . . .  built in Devon, SW England, in 1985.

Her original name was RRS Charles Darwin.

RRS expands to Royal Research Ship.  The first vessel of that organization, built in 1901, was RRS Discovery, carrying among others Robert F. Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

The Gardline Group operates several dozen vessels around the world.

After a final salute from the Statue,

Ocean Researcher heads across the big pond.  Next stop Hull, East Yorkshire, England.  ETA . . . Boxing Day.   Bon voyage.

All photos by Will Van Dorp.