R.V. Actinia

FSC Millport has a research vessel available for use by groups using the Centre and visiting researchers. The R.V. Actinia is 10.8m, class III research vessel. The catamaran was specifically designed to provide a large stable deck for students and researchers to work on, and the vessel is licensed to carry 12 passengers and 2 crew.

Popular studies with Undergraduate and Masters level groups utilising the vessel include:

Scientific trawls, providing students with benthic organisms to identify and equipping them with a greater understanding of trawl sampling techniques.
Marine mammal and bird surveying techniques.
Grab samples from the sea bed (a particularly popular study due to the diverse substrates and depths near to Millport meaning a large range of samples can be gathered relatively quickly).
Plankton sampling (again a popular study, as Millport also has a plentiful number of microscopes available for students to use to identify plankton species).

The boat is also popular with schools, and our able skipper will be happy to tell groups about the wildlife they pass on a cruise along the Cumbrae coast. This trip is often combined with a rocky shore day introducing a diverse range of habitats and covering experiences and outcomes from Curriculum for Excellence .

Researchers and scientific divers use the Actinia for a diverse range of projects in the Clyde. If you are considering research on the R.V. Actinia, and may require a derogation license a brief overview of licensing is available here.

You can also download the R.V. Actinia safety policy and the risk assessment for students on board.