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The Nancy Foster is a 187-ft research vessel that operates in all three SEFSC research areas. The Nancy Foster is used in habitat and fauna characterization in the nation’s National Marine Sanctuaries as well as pollution assessments, bathymetric surveys, physical and chemical oceanography studies, maritime heritage surveys, and pollution assessments. On board equipment includes two cranes, A-frame, J-frame and two winches. Special research equipment includes wet and dry laboratories, computers for data acquisition and analysis, and instruments for obtaining oceanographic and atmospheric data. The ship also carries four different launches, ranging from 17-ft rigid hull inflatable boats to a 23-ft aluminum boat for diving and oceanographic operations in shallow water.