Vessel Description

Explorer

Explorer is a vessel that was conceived and built expressly for RiverQuest.  It is one of the world's first green passenger vessels, and features a hybrid diesel-electric engine system that is projected to reduce emissions by a significant amount as compared to the older vessels of the fleet.

Explorer arrived in Pittsburgh on August 13, 2008, and started serving school groups in the spring of 2009.  For more information on RiverQuest's new flagship, use the links below.

Explorer Backgrounder: Hybrid Propulsion System (PDF)
Explorer Backgrounder: Green Design (PDF)

U.S. Coast Guard Certified Vessel

RiverQuest Explorer operates under the guidelines of the U.S. Coast Guard and the vessel is inspected annually. The boat is equipped with navigation and boat handling equipment, life jackets and buoys, fire fighting and safety equipment, first aids kits, and communication devices. RiverQuest provides in-depth and ongoing training programs for its full- and part-time crew members. All programs and charters are conducted with a boat crew of four: a captain with a 100-ton Masters License, a senior and two junior deckhands. As required by the U.S. Coast Guard, crew members are enrolled in a random drug testing program. Crew members are also certified by the American Red Cross in Adult, Child and Infant CPR, First Aid, and  Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED) usage.

Retired Vessels:

Discovery, Voyager & Scout

Discovery and Voyager served RiverQuest faithfully for many years. Both boats have retired from service, and all RiverQuest operations have been transitioned onto the new vessel Explorer.

These vessels were 78.7 feet in length, with a beam (width) of 17.5 feet. Each weighed 87 gross tons and drew 5.5 feet in fresh water. (This is the amount of the boat "under water" at any given time while sailing in fresh water.) The hulls were made of double planked Douglas Fir and Alaskan Cedar. The boats operated with twin screws (propellers) with twin rudders, and were powered by four General Motors Detroit 671 diesel engines with a total of 650 horsepower with a maximum speed of approximately 18 knots (21 mph).

While in service to RiverQuest, both vessels were equipped with five interior spaces: the Main Deck Classroom, the Galley (or Fish Lab), the Crews' Quarters (or Plankton Lab), the Pilothouse and the Engine Room. The bow and stern decks were utilized as outside classrooms. The 01-Deck (topmost) of Discovery was modified as a canopied multi-use space. Both boats were certified to accommodate 40 passengers, inclusive of crew and education staff, and all passengers.

Additionally, the 44-foot houseboat laboratory known as Scout was retired from RiverQuest service and sold in 2009.

While Voyager was disassembled after decommissioning, Discovery has a new life as a private houseboat in the Chesapeake Bay.

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