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R/V Ferguson
Dedicated
To Educator Who Died Sept 11
The R/V Joe Ferguson was recently dedicated in tribute to Joe Ferguson,
the National Geographic Society expeditions leader who perished along
with seven students, teachers and staff on the aircraft that hit the
Pentagon on September 11. The research vessel was dedicated by the Grays
Reef National Marine Sanctuary in ceremonies at the University of Georgia's
Marine Education Center and Aquarium.
Joe Ferguson directed the National Geographic Society Education and
Outreach Program. Along with Ann Judge, director of the Society's travel
office, he was accompanying three students and their teachers on an
education trip to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary near
Santa Barbara, California. The students and teachers, all from Washington,
DC, had been chosen to take part in one of the exploration education
events.
"Our staff felt it was important to name the vessel in Joe's honor because
of all he has done to educate students about the marine environment,"
said Reed Bohne, sanctuary manager.
Located 17 nautical miles off the Georgia coast, the Grays
Reef Sanctuary was designated in 1981 to focus on education, science
and conservation efforts. Because of seasonal mixing of warm tropical
waters from the south and cold, nutrient-filled waters from the north,
the sanctuary is a biological hot spot with a rich diversity of marine
life.
As a former Coast Guard patrol boat converted for scientific and educational
programs, the R/V Ferguson will be the sanctuary's primary research
vessel. With a cruising speed of 26 knots, the vessel will be used to
support sanctuary patrols and water quality monitoring, and maintain
buoys, reef fish and habitat assessments. It will also support the work
of local scientists. The R/V Ferguson will be ready for full
use this spring.
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