49 YEARS, 270,000 NAUTICAL MILES
13 EXPEDITIONS AND 60 COUNTRIES
Since it was designed and built in 1975 by the Institute of Ecotechnics, the crew of the Heraclitus has studied oceans, coral reefs, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and explored the origins and futures of human cultures.
13. Lives and Legends of the Mediterranean Sea 2011-present
The Heraclitus crew documented changing cultures of Mediterranean filming nearly 150 interviews with sea people and coastal dwellers of six countries…
12. Coral Sea to Mediterranean Sea 2006-2010
The Heraclitus set sail from Cairns, Australia, to the Southern Indian Ocean and South Africa, where it entered dry-dock near Cape Town with assistance from the Uruguayan Navy which was also docked there…
11. Second Stage of Coral Reef Expedition 2001-2004
The Heraclitus crossed the Pacific to North America, sailing from Guam to Seattle and finally San Francisco where it docked in Oakland, the place…
10. Indian Ocean and South East Asia Coral Reef Mapping Expedition 1995 -2001
Coral reef systems around the world are undergoing rapid changes, and even the oldest and most established of reefs are being destroyed. An accumulating body of evidence, including the data gathered…
09. Central America – Coral Reef Studies 1991-1995
After coral collections the ship sailed visited the Bahamas, the Lesser Antilles, Venezuela (we drydocked the ship there), Mexico, Miami in search of a new home port and to study coral reefs. Anchored in Belize…
08. Collections for Biosphere 2 Project 1990-1991
In 1990, the Heraclitus visited southern Florida to gather fresh-water and salt-water plant and animal specimens for the wetland areas of Biosphere 2. The ship then joined the Smithsonian Institution’s research…
07. Expedition to Antarctica 1987-1989
The Heraclitus was completely insulated for Antarctic weather. The first leg of the voyage, south along the Pacific coastline of South America…
06. Coral, Mangrove studies; Dolphin Release Project 1986-1987
In Puerto Rico the crew prepared the expedition, and assisted the Institute in establishing a thousand acre sustainable forestry project in the mountain rainforest, Las Casas de la Selva…
04. Amazon Expedition 1980-1982
Inspired by Richard Evans Schultes’ suggestion, the Heraclitus initiated an ethnobotanical expedition to the Amazon. Sailing from the Ecotechnics’ Tropics Conference…
03. Third Voyage: Australia to Malayasia
The ship left Australia, sailing to Bali and Java, Indonesia, Singapore and Penang, Malaysia, where the crew attended the Institute of Ecotechnics’…
02. Second Voyage: Indian Ocean Circumnavigation
With a large volunteer crew on board, the Heraclitus circumnavigated the Indian Ocean from Darwin to Bali, then to Singapore…
01. Shakedown Voyages: 1975-1979
On its maiden voyage, the ship sailed from San Francisco Bay down the coast to Panama, through the Panama Canal, then stopping at the San Blas…