This past weekend St. Petersburg hosted the Tall Ship Festival at Bayboro Harbor (in the Innovation District). I was fascinated to see these historic vessels side-by-side with the R/V Weatherbird II. Each vessel has contributed to the maritime industry in an unique way. From transporting the earliest explorers, speeding privateers through blockades, and supporting researchers as they tackle critical issues such as the impact of the Deep Water Horizon incident. Their individual stories are remarkable. Built hundreds of years apart, they were designed for a purpose that was adapted as new situations arose. They are great examples of innovation in action.
In case you aren't familiar with the Research Vessel (R/V) Weatherbird II, its worth a moment. The Weatherbird is part of the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) and homeported in St. Petersburg at the University of South Florida. Her mission is to provide a sea-going platform for oceanographic and marine science education and research at sea. During the Tall Ship Festival, students and the general public, got a rare "insider" view of the Weatherbird to learned about its work. The Weatherbird and her sister ship - R/V Hogarth - are tremendous assets for the State of Florida and we are luckily to be their home.
To learn more about the Tall Ships that visited St. Pete click here.
(This article was first featured in our March newsletter - to subscribe to our monthly newsletter click here)
The St. Petersburg Science Festival and MarineQuest celebrated another incredibly successful event. The multi-day program began with a proclamation by the St. Pete Mayor and City Council, included sold out school tours during the week
The Maritime and Defense Technology Hub continues welcome new technology companies to our community. The latest is Tocaro Blue.
The St. Pete Science Festival is an annual regional celebration where families and the public can explore the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).