From THE SEAFARING RESTLESSNESS OF THE DUTCH RENEWED AFTER 361 YEARS on the Stony Brook Review, V. 9, N. 2, December 2, 1975.
Last April, 361 years after the original ship Onrust was launched, its 20th Century namesake, a research vessel of the University’s Marine Sciences Research Center, was christened at the Stony Brook Yacht Club.
Mrs. Deborah Toll, wife of University President John S. Toll, broke an ampule of Copenhagen seawater, recognized throughout the world as an oceanographer’s standard of measure, across the bow of the 55-foot vessel to mark the occasion.
The R/V Onrust, one of the best equipped research vessels of her size, is particularly suited for work in New York’s coastal waters, as was the original Onrust. The historical significance of the name Onrust dates back to 1614. The Dutch trader and explorer Captain Adrian Block and his crew became stranded on lower Manhattan when their vessel. Tiger, burned. During the winter of 1613— 14, these men constructed what is believed to be the first decked vessel built by Europeans in North America. They named their 44-foot vessel Onrust — Dutch for “restless.”
The first Onrust was launched into upper New York Bay in April, 1614. Later that month she set sail to meet her first real challenge, the treacherous passage through Hell-gate in the East River. She sailed on to become what many believe to be the first European-built vessel to explore Long Island Sound. It later charted the American coast from Cape Cod to Delaware.
The marine sciences staff consider the name Onrust not only appropriate historically but because it also describes the spirit of restless inquiry that has always typified oceanographic research.
The R/V Onrust is equipped with radar and loran navigational systems, radio, autopilot, depth recorders, and diesel generators to produce both alternating and direct current electricity. A wet lab (with running sea water and elaborate plumbing) allows scientists to sample sea water at any depth automatically. This instantaneous reading/ recording system permits continuous horizontal or vertical sampling of water, and immediate analysis of its physical properties. An adjacent dry lab contains an auto analyzer which can measure the quantities and distribution of the nutrients in the water. All measurements can then be fed into an on board mini-computer data acquisition system which will store the findings on magnetic tape for later analysis at the University’s Computing Center.
The University’s Onrust is now sailing the same waters as the original Onrust, with marine sciences faculty pursuing a number of projects of national as well as regional importance. Projects which have been researched by the University include the continual monitoring of the quality of Long Island waters; studies of the effects of sewage release on the New York Bight, an area in the Atlantic off the Manhattan harbor, a study of the disposal of dredged soils in the Sound; the possible effects of offshore oil spills; development of a pollution susceptibility map for the marine waters of Land Island; and the possible results of sewage outfall pipes from Suffolk on water quality.
