2015 Expedition Season

In 2015, Dr. Robert Ballard’s Exploration Vessel E/V Nautilus and its Corps of Exploration will embark on their most ambitious expedition season yet, exploring sites ranging from the Gulf of Mexico to British Columbia through late September. Over six weeks of the six-month expedition will be dedicated to exploration and mapping of the Galapagos Rift and the site of the first hydrothermal vent discovery in 1977. The six-month-long 2015 season marks the transition of the vessel and operations of the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) to the west coast of the United States and the Pacific Ocean, concluding over two years of research in the Gulf and Caribbean regions.

The Ocean Exploration Trust was founded in 2008 by Titanic-discoverer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Robert Ballard to engage in pure ocean exploration. Our international programs center on scientific exploration of the seafloor and many of our expeditions are launched from aboard Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus, a 64-meter research vessel operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust. In addition to conducting scientific research, we offer our expeditions to explorers on shore via live video, audio, and data feeds from the field. We also bring educators and students of all ages aboard during E/V Nautilus expeditions, offering them hands-on experience in ocean exploration, research, and communications.

2015 Nautilus Expeditions

ECOGIG

Apr 23 – May 4, 2015
NA057

Gulf of Mexico Technology Exploration

May 14 – 19, 2015
NA059

Galapagos Rift Exploration

Jun 9 – Jul 5, 2015
NA062

Galapagos Rift

Jun 18 – 23, 2015
NA063

Galapagos Platform

Jun 26 – Jul 8, 2015
NA064

Seamount Mapping

Jul 9 – 24, 2015
NA065

California Borderlands: Our Unknown Backyard

Jul 27 – Aug 18, 2015
NA066

South/Central California Margin

Aug 11 – 19, 2015
NA067

Ocean Networks Canada

Aug 26 – Sep 16, 2015
NA069

Expedition Map

Map of US with 2015 expedition locations marked
Ocean Exploration Trust