vC Expeditions
Our non-profit extension
Making marine science accessible to all through immersive &
educational trips
At VC Expeditions
our mission is to inspire curiosity and understanding of the ocean through hands-on learning and real-world experiences. We work with communities, schools, and organizations across North America and the Caribbean to foster stewardship and a shared commitment to protecting our oceans for future generations.
Why VCE
Marine and coastal research is too often limited by access. Most research vessels are expensive, fully booked, or locked behind institutional schedules, making it difficult for independent teams, NGOs, and smaller universities to get on the water. At the same time, many of the environments most affected by climate change—estuaries, reefs, wetlands, and nearshore habitats—can’t be reached by large, deep-draft ships.
As a result, high-value ecosystems remain under-studied, community-driven projects struggle to launch, and many promising research ideas never move beyond the planning stage. The gap isn’t a lack of scientific curiosity—it’s a lack of platforms that can support it.
And that’s where we come in.
Connecting People With the Tools to Do Real Marine Science
VC Expeditions helps bridge this gap by connecting scientists, educators, and community partners with research vessels that can get them into the field safely and effectively. Working with platforms like R/V ROBERT GRAY—currently supporting cNAMMs circumnavigation research and Seakeepers—we ensure capability and flexibility needed for successful missions.
Our model gives smaller research teams, NGOs, and academic partners access to a cost-effective, shallow-draft platform that can reach the places where big vessels can’t go. By offering adaptable workspace, responsive scheduling, and a focus on field readiness, VC Expeditions opens the door for the kinds of projects that often fall through the cracks—coastal mapping, marine biology, conservation, archaeology, environmental monitoring, and more.
We exist to help more people do meaningful science in the places that need it most.
Shark Tagging
VC Expeditions partnered with SeaKeepers and the University of Delaware to support their shark tagging research, utilizing R/V ROBERT GRAY to track and study local shark populations. We work with vessels that have the crew and capacity to ensure every mission is safe, efficient, and successful, while continuing to seek partnerships with other ships to expand hands-on marine science opportunities.
Our Most Recent Expedition
R/V ROBERT GRAY’s Relocation & cNAMMs Survey
In partnership with the GAC Research Institute and with additional support from Basecamp Research Institute, we recently completed the southern leg of our North American circumnavigation — a 7,000 nautical mile journey conducting active science in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans along the way. cNAMMs is the “circumnavigation of North America Marine Microbe survey.” R/V ROBERT GRAY is honored to be hosting this Explorers Club and Adventurers Club of LA awarded flagged expedition.
“Science moves fastest when everyone has a way to reach the horizon.”
Expressions of Interest
Expressions of Interest
Researchers, organizations, and community teams interested in partnering with VC Expeditions are invited to submit an expression of interest. Whether you’re launching a new project or expanding an existing one, we’re here to help you get your science on the water.
VC Expeditions is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States.
EIN: 39-2673164
Address: 9 Field Place, Charleston, SC 29403
For questions, partnerships, or ways to get involved with our mission, please reach out—we’d be glad to hear from you.