BEAUFORT — While the R/V Cape Hatteras is leaving the Duke University Marine Lab, it will be staying in North Carolina. Cape Fear Community College has bought the vessel for its marine technology program.
The National Science Foundation announced in 2010 it was retiring the Cape Hatteras from its research fleet. The foundation operated the vessel from DUML for 31 years. John Nelson of Nelson Yacht Sales of Beaufort acted as the sales agent for the ship.
“The inquiries hardly slowed down,” Mr. Nelson said. “I was blown away; we had almost two dozen interested buyers. I had three people say that if this deal doesn’t go through, call them; they have money ready.”
It looks like the deal will go through, however. David Hardin, CFCC public information officer, said the college intends to finalize the sale Tuesday. There will be an acceptance ceremony scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the college.
While the original asking price for the vessel was $1.8 million, CFCC negotiated to purchase it for $900,000. Funding came from the college’s state equipment funds, institutional funds and private donations
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