Welcome to the R/V Clifford A. Barnes Research Vessel
Click on the image above to see line drawings of the R/V Clifford A Barnes
The R/V Clifford A. Barnes is owned by the National Science Foundation and operated under a Charter Party agreement by the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington as part of the UNOLS fleet. It is intended for use primarily in the sheltered waters of Western Washington and British Columbia.
R/V Barnes and marine operations support personnel exist for the sole purpose of implementing scientific research and student instruction, and it is the intent of the School to be responsive to the needs of the users.
R/V Clifford A. Barnes began life as USCG BITT WYTL 65613. She was built in 1965 at Western boat in Tacoma Washington. There were 15 of her class built, most of the class still in Coast Guard service until 1995. The class's major missions were: Ice Ops, Search/Rescue and Pollution Response. BITT's first duty station was Bellingham, WA. Her last duty station was Valdez, AK. She was decommissioned in 1982 and surplused to the National Science Foundation.