Coast Guard approves Middlebury College vessel for full crew

A ship that will serve as a floating laboratory for students and professors at a Vermont college was fully certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to operate at full capacity, according to Middlebury College.

The R/V David Folger was delivered just in time for fall classes at Middlebury College, but could not take a full crew of students out until the Coast Guard gave it a Certificate of Inspection.   Last week the Coast Guard inspected and approved the ship.

The research vessel can now take up to 18 students out to do research on Lake Champlain. Small groups of students have already used the new 45-foot catamaran to monitor currents in the lake.

Coast Guard approval comes only a week before the boat will be removed from the lake for winter storage.

Image: The R/V David Folger (Credit: Middlebury College)