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Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Project: LAMP Research Vessel

Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Project: LAMP Research Vessel Nickerin

LAMP maintains a fleet of four research vessels with which it conducts archaeological fieldwork. Our primary research vessel is a twin-outboard 23’ (29’ length overall) Grady White named the RV Desmond Valdes. Donated by local brothers John and Desmond Valdes in 2009, it is capacious and seaworthy and an ideal vessel for both survey and diving operations. We also maintain a 1973 28' Bertram named the RV Island Fever, a 21' Seaswirl Striper named RV Nickerin, and a 13' Boston Whaler named the RV Indy (short for Indefatigable). Indy serves as a runabout and chase boat for offshore operations, and also as a survey and diving vessel for work on inland waterways.

In addition, LAMP maintains an active partnership with the Institute of Maritime History, and we have had the use of their outstanding research vessel, the Roper, for one to two months during our annual summer field season. Roper is a 36.5' steel-hulled trawler turned diving vessel. She is an exceptional excavation and diving platform and survey vessel, and is outfitted with a full assortment of salvage and archaeological equipment and an onboard computer and navigational software

LAMP archaeologists on the Nickerin retrieve the sonar sensor head, or towfish, after a side scan sonar survey in the Tolomato River.

LAMP divers return to the Island Fever after a dive on the wreck of the British sloop Industry, lost in 1764 off St. Augustine.

LAMP is very pleased to acknowledge the ongoing support of our research and educational mission by Kohler Global Power Group. Kohler, recognized internationally for their high-quality and reliable marine generators, has donated to LAMP their newest model of environmentally-friendly, low carbon monoxide emissions marine generator. This generator, which reduces CO emissions by 99%, will be perfect for our research as it will let us power compressors without fear of CO contamination in divers' breathing air. The new 5ECD 60 Hz generator was installed on LAMP's research vessel Island Fever by Kohler technicians on May 16-17th 2007.
Click here to read about and see pictures of the installation on our official blog, LAMPosts.

Our New 5ECD 60Hz Generator

Kohler has a long history of supporting scientific exploration. In 1929 Kohler donated five generators for Admiral Byrd's expedition to Antarctica. These generators successfully provided heat, light, and communication to the team of explorers, and after lying dormant for five years were used again during the second Antarctic expedition in 1934. We are proud to acknowledge that Kohler maintains their commitment to exploration in the twenty-first century by sponsoring our search for and excavation of historic shipwrecks associated with America's oldest port.

We would also like to thank Noah's Ark Repair Services, of Cocoa, Florida, who sent their very skilled technician to install the new generator.

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