Boat Operations and Facilities

Welcome to the Boat Operations and Facilities dedicated to advancing education and research within the Gupta College of Science. Our diverse fleet of vessels is strategically housed in Georgetown, Conway, and Little River. This lineup includes a variety of boats, from aluminum jon boats and fiberglass skiffs ideal for shallow waters to the larger 54-foot aluminum catamaran Coastal Explorer, fully equipped with cutting-edge geophysical survey tools. Available for use by classes, faculty, and graduate students, our fleet is also open for charter by external researchers. For charter inquiries, kindly reach out to Dr. Rich Viso at rviso@coastal.edu. The operation and maintenance of our fleet are entrusted to a team of experienced staff, all holding Captain’s licenses and extensive expertise in marine navigation and safety. Explore the profiles of our captains and learn more about their backgrounds by visiting our Meet Our Captains webpage.

Located in Georgetown at 909 Front Street, our Boat Operations facility encompasses classrooms, storage, a dock, and direct access to Winyah Bay and the Waccamaw River. Winyah Bay, the fourth-largest estuary on the east coast, serves as an expansive canvas for coastal studies, providing unparalleled opportunities for exploration and research. Moreover, our faculty and students at Coastal Carolina University actively utilize the myriad of inlets, salt marshes, freshwater rivers, and wetlands along the northeast coast of South Carolina. The nearby Baruch Institute at North Inlet serves as a hub for partnerships and collaborative research efforts. Join us on this maritime journey, where education and research set sail on the waves of innovation and exploration.