Center for Coastal Studies Seeks Help in Purchasing New Boat Engines

COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR COASTAL STUDIES: Research and rescue vessel, Ibis

PROVINCETOWN – A busy year of rescuing large marine species from entanglements is taking a toll on the Center for Coastal Studies’ Marine Animal Entanglement Response Team – and its vessel.

The team has successfully disentangled a record 20 whales and sea turtles this year putting over 350 hours on the two outboard engines on the research vessel Ibis over the last 9 months.

The center is looking for help from the public to raise money to purchase and install two new engines.

“The engines are reaching the end of their lifespan and we do not want to get in a situation where we jeopardize the safety of not only the whales but of our courageous crew that goes out into these ocean waters,” said Richard Delaney, the President and CEO of the Center for Coastal Studies.

The total purchase and installation cost of two new engines is about $70,000.

Napi and Helen Van Dereck, of Napi’s Restaurant and longtime donors to the center, have committed to buy one of the engines if the cost to purchase the other, $35,000, can be raised.

“This is an organization dedicated to saving our world,” Napi said. “Helen and I are delighted to buy an engine to further the success of this work. And we encourage others to pitch in.”

Delaney said new engines would need to be purchased this fall to be able to continue rescue operations this winter.

“I cannot allow our rescue crew, as courageous as they are, to be out on Stellwagen Bank or some place in the dead of winter and have engines fail,” he said.

The center has started to send out letters to members detailing the situation.

“Some of the initial responses have just started to come back in the last week or so and there seems to be a lot of interest,” Delaney said. “But it takes a lot of interest and a lot of donations to add up to $35,000.”

Delaney said the fundraising goal is $35,000 but more wouldn’t hurt as there are always more expenses, including gas and insurance, to operate the vessel.

Cape residents and visitor can get involved by becoming a center member, or making donations at coastalstudies.org. Checks can also be sent to the Center for Coastal Studies, 115 Bradford Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. The center asks for checks to be designated for the “Ibis Engine Fund.”

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter