Students from Cal Poly Maritime Academy got an up-close look at research vessel operations and maritime careers during a tour of the R/V Sally Ride at Bay Ship & Yacht in Alameda.

Students enrolled in Professor Aldrich’s NAU 415 Transportation Security course toured the Scripps Institution of Oceanography research vessel while it was undergoing work in a floating dry dock. The visit gave students an opportunity to connect concepts from the classroom with real-world vessel operations, transportation security and the work of professional mariners.

Leading the tour was Capt. Ian Lawrence (Marine Transportation ’93), a Cal Poly Maritime Academy graduate and captain of the R/V Sally Ride.

Lawrence took students throughout the vessel, shared insights from his career, discussed life aboard a research ship and offered advice about career opportunities in the maritime industry. Students also learned about the vessel’s mission and the role professional mariners play in supporting scientific research at sea.

The experience provided another example of Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy in action, taking students beyond the classroom to see how the skills and concepts they are studying are applied aboard an operating vessel.

The R/V Sally Ride is scheduled to leave dry dock Sept. 18 before departing for the Pacific Northwest for scientific research operations.

The visit was made possible by Lawrence, the R/V Sally Ride crew and the team at Bay Ship & Yacht, who welcomed the students aboard and provided an inside look at the people, equipment and operations that support research at sea.

For Cal Poly Maritime Academy students, experiences like the R/V Sally Ride tour provide an opportunity to learn directly from working maritime professionals while exploring the range of careers available across the maritime industry.