Miniboat Hesperia Deployed from R/V Atlantis During OOI RCA Cruise

On August 24, 2025, during the 2025 Regional Cabled Array (RCA) Operations and Maintenance cruise, a small miniboat named M/B Hesperia was launched into the Pacific. About two hours after departing Axial Seamount, the boat was carefully deployed by hand off the starboard side of the R/V Atlantis.

The deployment was conducted at 15:31 PDT by Bosun Ed Popowitz and Able-Bodied Seaman Esteban Mogollon at coordinates 45.809950° N, 129.575011° W. The launch was met with enthusiasm and excitement from the crew, who gathered to watch Hesperia set sail.

This effort supports the Educational Passages Program and the Oregon Coast STEM Hub, part of Oregon Sea Grant, helping connect students and communities with ocean science through hands-on exploration.

You can follow the journey of M/B Hesperia in real time here: Track the boat.

M. Elend, University of Washington, V25

M. Elend, University of Washington, V25

M. Elend, University of Washington, V25