May 11, 2020
B-roll: RV Thomas G. Thompson comes home
For journalists
The UW’s large research vessel, the RV Thomas G. Thompson, returned May 8 to its home port after more than two years exploring the world’s oceans. A scheduled cruise in Tahiti has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the return is roughly two months earlier than planned.
The 21-member crew and two marine technicians will be under strict quarantine for two weeks.
After a major midlife overhaul, the UW’s 274-foot vessel left Feb. 5, 2018 and has traveled for 823 days away from its home port. In that time the ship has done research expeditions off Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Zealand, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, South Africa, Antarctica, Namibia and Uruguay. The ship traveled over 100,000 nautical miles, equivalent to more than four times around the world at the equator.
The vessel returned to its home port for maintenance and to shelter in place until explorations resume.
For more information, contact Hannah Hickey at hickeyh@uw.edu
Tag(s): COVID-19 • RV Thomas G. Thompson • School of Oceanography
