A 24' electric rigid inflatable boat has entered service at Discovery Pier in Traverse City, Mich., where it will support research and training for the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center.
The Vita Seal arrived in September and operates from Discovery Pier Marina on West Grand Traverse Bay. It charges at an Aqua superPower DC fast charger at the marina. The delivery is Vita Power’s first in Michigan.
The center plans to use the boat for workforce training, freshwater research and testing maritime technology in Great Lakes conditions. Its open deck and center console provide room for sampling equipment, dive gear and the launch and recovery of a remotely operated vehicle. The boat has 160 hp of electric propulsion, according to Vita.
“The addition of the Vita Power Seal is an important step in bringing the vision for the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center to life,” said Matt McDonough, CEO of Discovery Pier. “This vessel will be much more than a way to get out on the water – it will be a shared platform for hands-on workforce training, research, and the testing and demonstration of new BlueTech technologies in real-world Great Lakes conditions.”
The center also acquired an Outland Technology ROV 3000 under the same project. Together, the boat and ROV will support inspection, sampling and sensor work at and below the surface.
The purchase is part of the state-supported BlueTech Startup Studio and Electric Research Vessel project, one of five projects selected in July through Michigan’s Maritime Innovation Grant Program. The state committed $1.5 million across the five projects, which are expected to draw an additional $2 million in private investment.
The Freshwater Research & Innovation Center is a partnership among Discovery Pier, Northwestern Michigan College, Michigan Technological University, 20Fathoms and Traverse Connect. Its first phase, a 35,000-square-foot building with laboratory, classroom and business incubation space, is under construction at Discovery Pier. Completion is expected in 2027.
