Aboard the legacy vessel the R/V Bellows, we specialize in oceanic and expeditionary projects in the U.S. Gulf, along the Atlantic seaboard, and across the Bahamas.
Following a complete overall in 2025, the Bellows features modern navigation and communications equipment, two mono boom telescoping cranes, two A-frames, dedicated winches, and 11 berthing accommodations across 5 state rooms capable of supporting multi-day voyages.
R/V BELLOWS
70 ft
Feet
100 ft²
Mess & Work Area
277 ft²
Flexible Deck Space
20 ft
Beam
2
Heads
2
A-Frames, 3-Ton Capacity
5
Draft
2
Cranes (2.8k Lift Capacity)
100 ft²
Wet & Dry Lab
11
Berths
LEGACY OF SERVICE
Originally commissioned in 1972 by the University of South Florida, the R/V Bellows served for decades under the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) where she supported thousands of students, researchers, and faculty in marine science across Florida’s coasts and beyond. Notable, projects include the 2005 discovery of Pulley Ridge, the deepest known photosynthetic coral reef in the continental U.S., as well as her involvement studying the immediate ecological impacts following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
After retiring from FIO service in 2019, the Bellows assisted maritime archaeological research or shipwreck expeditions before joining the MARISTAR platform in 2024.
