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)
What's next for launching rockets into space? Launching rockets from the sea. With limited land availability and significant costs, companies like Seagate Space see a game-changing solution in developing offshore launchpads. There is also a sense of urgency as other countries have included offshore infrastructure as part of their space strategy. Seagate Space and The Spaceport Company are positioned to lead the way for Florida in this new frontier.
The St. Petersburg Ocean Team is the premier consortium for marine science and related research, education and entrepreneurship in the Southeast. The Team is comprised of over 20 complementary firms, government entities, and institutions that are located near one another, many in the St. Pete Innovation District, that draw advantages from their proximity as well as the similarities between their workforce and vendor needs.
April’s Tech X-change was a hit, thanks to an engaging presentation from Digital Twin Marine. Shoutout to all the Eckerd College students who joined us! The audience was curious and interactive, asking great questions and eager to try out the virtual reality headset.