For those passing through the northeast side of campus last Friday, it was hard to miss the 21-foot Seaway research vessel perched high and dry outside of Cleaveland House—the centerpiece of an event honoring Ed Laine, associate professor of Earth and Oceanographic Science, in recognition of his retirement to emeritus status.

Colleagues, students, and friends of Laine gathered in the noon sun while the coastal motor vessel was christened the R/V Laine—a fitting tribute to a faculty member who has been introducing Bowdoin students to boat-based oceanographic research for years, among many other contributions to marine science at the college.

“Students lucky enough to work with Ed on summer research projects often find themselves out on a boat sampling the water column, chasing drifters, or surveying the bathymetry with sonar,” said Collin Roesler, chair of the Earth and Oceanographic Science Department.

Since coming to Bowdoin in 1986, Laine has also been taking students onto the coastal waters of the region through his introductory and upper-level courses in marine geology and coastal oceanography. The Seaway vessel has been facilitating these ocean adventures since it was purchased by the college in 2004.