• Image showing our pontoon with both vessels and a dive boat tied up during late autumn with snowy mountains
    Our vessels:
    for research, teaching and charter
    on our dedicated pontoon outside SAMS

SAMS research vessels

Here at SAMS we have a vessel up to MCA standards to enable us to complete marine science around the local area.

Our research vessels since 1882

Nowadays, a small fleet of research vessels provide our scientists, students and visitors with direct access to the range of oceanographic environments on our door step: from sea lochs, the Firth of Lorne to the Sound of Mull.

SAMS operates the research vessel RV Seòl Mara, which is moored next to Dunstaffnage Castle (and next to SAMS). The vessel - as well as a range of equipment and services - are available for charter.

Seòl Mara is capable of deploying a range of sampling gear for hydrographic, biological and chemical parameters.

The vessels are operated by a crew capable of deploying the technology and supporting sampling and instrumentation.

 

Contact

For commercial customers we can complete bespoke project packages to include data collection, analysis and report writing.

SAMS Enterprise team for quotes and charter bookings: info@sams-enterprise.com or  T: +44 (0) 1631 559 470

 

Sidways photo of our small research vessel Seol MaraDesigned in 1972, Seòl Mara is a 10.4m general purpose MCA standard category 3 research vessel, well suited to use in confided upper reaches of sea lochs or shallow inshore waters.

She has a large open afterdeck (6m x 4m) with removable aft rail section (width 1.25m) to allow easy deployment of large gear. There is a bench area in the wheelhouse (1m x 0.6 m) for covered scientific working, and a covered dry hold area, which provides storage and mounting space for equipment.

Seòl Mara has capacity for 8 passengers and crew.

Specification sheet RV Seol Mara

Usige vessel - RIBUisge is a CAT 3 (restricted) day and night Tornado 5.8 m RIB. The RIB can travel within 20 miles from a designated safe haven and can carry 6 people but not over 450 kg including equipment. The RIB is on a roadworthy trailer and can be taken anywhere with a bit of planning.

The perfect RIB for checking on deployed equipment, student trips (especially at the Falls of Lora) and simple tows and scientific equipment can be used from her.

Tritonia diving team

Affiliated with SAMS is Tritonia Scientific. More information about what they do and what they can offer can be found on their website: tritoniascientific.co.uk