Name of New Research Vessel Honors Dr. William Hogarth
– JULY 5, 2017
 The W.T. Hogarth is lowered into the water for the first time. Photo by Eric Younghans, University of South Florida Health Communications |
 William “Bill” Hogarth speaks at the launching and christening ceremony of the R/V W.T. Hogarth. Photo by Eric Younghans, University of South Florida Health Communications |
The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is pleased to announce that a new state-of-the-art scientific research vessel has been named in honor of Research Board member William “Bill” T. Hogarth. The R/V W.T Hogarth will support the research of over two dozen institutions and agencies across Florida and will be used for refined bottom mapping, metal tracing, surveying, collecting samples, and more.
Hogarth’s distinguished 50+ year scientific career includes leadership positions with GoMRI, Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO), University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science, Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the International Whaling Commission.
Hogarth, who described the vessel as a floating classroom, said, “For a person who worked in fisheries and oceanography, to have a vessel named after you, it’s the ultimate.”
The seventy-eight-foot coastal class research vessel is the newest addition to the FIO fleet and will help continue the efforts of scientific education and discovery. The vessel will replace the nearly 50-year-old R/V Bellows. Sea trials will begin soon.
A graduate of the University of Richmond, Hogarth earned his doctorate at the North Carolina State University and later became the director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and director of the National Marine Fisheries Service. Former President, George W. Bush appointed Hogarth to serve as the United States Commissioner and Chairman for the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic tuna and the International Whaling commission. Hogarth became the interim dean of the USF College of Marine Science and FIO director, from which he recently retired. Hogarth is a founding member of the GoMRI Research Board that leads a ten-year scientific response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is a 10-year independent research program established to study the effect, and the potential associated impact, of hydrocarbon releases on the environment and public health, as well as to develop improved spill mitigation, oil detection, characterization and remediation technologies. An independent and academic 20-member Research Board makes the funding and research direction decisions to ensure the intellectual quality, effectiveness and academic independence of the GoMRI research. All research data, findings and publications will be made publicly available. The program was established through a $500 million financial commitment from BP. For more information, visit https://gulfresearchinitiative.org/.
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