University of California (UC) San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to select a shipyard to perform the final design and assembly of the university’s new Coastal-class research vessel (CCRV), the first-ever that will run primarily on renewable fuels.

The ship will be a dual-powered hydrogen fuel cell/diesel electric hybrid oceanographic research vessel that will be able to conduct 75 percent of its missions using only liquid hydrogen fuel. When operating on hydrogen, CCRV will have zero emissions and a quiet operating profile, enabling contamination-free sampling and the performance of its underwater acoustic sensors.

The CCRV represents a major step toward reducing air pollution and advancing California’s pledge to reduce global climate risk while transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy and making progress toward the University of California’s climate action goals.

The vessel will be dedicated to California research missions to observe and measure biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes, including research to better understand fisheries, harmful algal blooms, severe El Niño storms, atmospheric rivers, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and oxygen depletion zones. 

The 163-ft. ship will replace Scripps RV Robert Gordon Sproul, which has seen 43 years of service. After delivery and acceptance, CCRV will conduct scientific missions in the eastern Pacific as part of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.

Responses from shipyards are being accepted through May 9, 2025, with a selection anticipated by June 20, 2025.

To learn more, contact Lynda Ta at L2ta@ucsd.edu or Gary Oshima at gmoshima@ucsd.edu.