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April 21: Sandusky to be Home for New Research Ship Funded Through Economic Recovery Legislation

April 21, 2009
Sandusky will serve as home port for a new, commercial-grade researchvessel for the U.S. Geological Service (USGS), according to U.S.Representative Marcy Kaptur.“I am extremely pleased to be able to announce a new ship for Lake Erieresearch as a result of the economic recovery bill,” said CongresswomanKaptur, who is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

“Lake Erie is such a precious natural resource and it is central to ourefforts to create new jobs and economic opportunity in Northern Ohio .Commercial and sport fishing generate more than $7 billion a year forthe Great Lakes regional economy. This new vessel will providestate-of-the-art technology to help protect our vital Lake Eriefishery.”

Kaptur said the U.S. Department of Interior will allocate funding underthe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for a pair of new 60-to 65-foot research vessels, one on Lake Erie and the other on LakeOntario . They will replace the Sandusky-based R/V Musky II, built in1960 to serve Lake Erie, and its counterpart on Lake Ontario , the R/VKaho, which was built in 1961 and is housed in Oswego , N.Y. Bothvehicles monitor lake ecology for the purpose of fisheries management.

The new ships will be built after contracts are awarded through acompetitive bidding process. Congresswoman Kaptur said replacing theolder, diesel-powered ships will mean safer working conditions,improved fuel economy and significantly lower maintenance costs, whichwill conserve taxpayer dollars.

Replacement of the current aging vessels was recommended by USGSofficials in light of prohibitively high maintenance costs for theMusky II and the Kaho. The Kaho, for instance, required more than halfa million dollars of safety upgrades, equipment replacement anddeferred maintenance between 2004 and 2007.