From the North Pole to the South, from the shallows to the deeps, exploration vessels undertake a variety of ocean exploration assignments, acting as floating science laboratories. Originally this 42 m long ship was an American mine-sweeper that was launched in 1942. The US Navy made her available to Great Britain who used her in the Mediterranean in World War II. After the war the ship remained in the Mediterranean and was converted into a ferry, until she was taken over by an oceanographer in 1950. This oceanographer fundamentally redesigned the vessel and installed specific exploration equipment aboard for research purposes. Like the ship, the model has hydrojet- propelled submarines, an additional rubber dinghy and a Hughes 300C helicopter. The helicopter lands on a pad installed aft. The two-part hull of the model is a true-to-original structural reproduction with striking observation portholes in the bow. Two diver figures and two sharks are also included.