The University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography offers USG faculty and students the opportunity to go to sea aboard the Institute’s 104-foot ocean-going research vessel, the R/V Savannah. The vessel was custom-built to conduct biological, chemical, physical and geological oceanographic studies in estuarine and oceanic waters. In addition to a ship crew of seven, which allows for round-the-clock operations, the ship accommodates groups up to 26 for day cruises and 16 for overnight cruises, making it an excellent platform for faculty and student groups (both graduate and undergraduate) to conduct oceanographic research, interact with the marine environment, and gain experience at sea.

Applications should be submitted no later than Dec. 22 for cruises to be run during the 2024 calendar year. Successful applications will be selected based on educational and research merits and diversity in disciplines across the university system.

• Faculty from all USG departments, centers and institutes are eligible to apply to lead a cruise.

• Individual students may apply to join scheduled educational cruises. These student berths will be awarded on a space-available basis.

• A total of  seven (7) days of sea time are available per year. Consequently, 1- to 2-day cruise requests are preferred. However, you may apply for up to 3 days of ship time with strong justification.

• Cruises are funded through a special appropriation from the Georgia General Assembly. All costs are covered while onboard. Transportation to the vessel’s home port, and pre- and post-cruise lodging and meals, are the responsibility of the applicant.

• The cruises will depart from and return to the vessel’s home port at the UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in Savannah, Ga.

• The ship’s current schedule and the cruise manual, which includes vessel capabilities and a list of shared-use equipment, can be accessed at www.skio.uga.edu/erco/.

• All cruise participants must comply with RV Savannah COVID-19 policies and procedures in force at the time the cruise takes place.

For questions, contact UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography Marine Superintendent John Bichy at jbichy@uga.edu or (912) 598-2456.

Application for Educational Ship Days*

To use this form:
1.) Download the form to your computer.
2.) Open in Adobe Acrobat and complete the interactive form.
3.) Save the form to your computer, rename the file “CruiseApp_YOUR NAME”
and email to jbichy@uga.edu.