PROFESSIONAL SEAFARING: Early Years on the Research Vessel Inland Seas

This is the research vessel Inland Seas operated by the U. of Michigan Great Lakes Research Division in the 1960s and 70s, one of four UM boats I worked on as an undergrad and graduate student technician in the summers from 1962-65. This photo was taken by Steve Schneider, who graciously allowed me to use it as the cover photo on my novel Halcyon Fury.

Here I was operating the oceanographic winch on the Inland Seas the summer after my sophomore year of college, 1962. Almost back in the days when “ships were wood and men were steel,” and women were virtually absent on research ships (fortunately no longer the case).