R/V PLANET 
IMO 7618193 - former USCG Yeaton (WMEC-156), WPC/WSC 156, R/V Johnson, R/V Edwin Link & Bay Explorer

ex USCG Cutter, Patrol Craft/Submarine Chaser & Research Vessel
Maritime History since 1927

About R/V Planet

R/V Planet started her life in May 1927 as an Active Class Cutter for the US Coast Guard and was named Yeaton. She was designed to case the "Rum-Runners & Mother Ships" during the time of Prohibition in the US. In 1941 Yeaton was coming under control of the US Navy, classifying her as a patrol craft / sub chaser with the hull no. WPC / WSC -156. During the times of WW II she operated in caribbean waters (acc. to the limited information available). After World War II, Yeaton resumed operation with the Coast Guard, out of New London, Conn.. Coast guard reclassified her in 1962 as medium endurance cutter (WMC-156). In 1969, the vessel was taken out of active service and purchased in 1970 by the Smithsonian Institute & Harbour Branch Foundation in order to convert her into a submarine support and research vessel. The vessel was completely rebuilt in the early 70th and served from 1972 until the 90th. As R/V Johnson and later R/V Edwin Link she was based at the Smithsonian Marine Station (Fort Pierce / USA). In the 90th and thereafter she was sold to various US based companies and operated under names as Bay Explorer, Sea Star and Sea Trek. In Sept. 2011 she was acquired by the Foundation Sudamericana de Exploracion based in Panama City / Republic of Panama. She was maintaining her original spirit while restoring & partly refitting her and is today in service as private excursion vessel for the past 13 years. - Semper Paratus -

Prohibition Enforcement, Patrol & Submarine Chasing

USCG & US Navy Times

1927 - 1970
Laid down: 16 Feb 1927 
Launched: 2 May 1927 
Commissioned: 10 May 1927 
Decommissioned : 18 July 1969.
Sold on 16 July 1970.

USCG Cutter Yeaton
        WMEC - 156       
1927-1941 & 1946-1970

Active class cutter, one of the most useful and long-lasting classes of United States Coast Guard cutters. Of the 35 built in the 1920s, only 3 (McLane, Morris & Yeaton) are still existing today.  Crew: 3 officers, 17 men / Armament: in 1927 1 × 3"/27 caliber gun later 1 × 40 mm/60 (1960)
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US Navy 
 Patrol Craft &  Submarine Chaser  
WPC / WSC - 156 
1941 - 1946

Based on the unfortunately  "little" information available regarding WW 2 activities she was patrolling in the Caribbean during WW 2.  Frequently calling Trinidad & Tobago. Crew: 5 officers, 41 enlisted / Armament during WWII: 1 × 40 mm/60 (single), 2 × 20 mm/70 (single), 2 × depth charge tracks and 2 × Mousetrap ASW
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Underwater Oceanography with Research Submersibles

HBOI & SI Times

1970 - 1994
Conversion: 1970 - 1972
Christening: 1972
Sold on 3rd June 1994

Seward Johnson, Sr. and Edwin Link on board RV Johnson / wheelhouse (1972).


Owner & Operator of the RV Johnson was the Smithsonian Institute in cooperation with the HBOI. HBOI was founded in 1971 by J. Seward Johnson, Sr. in collaboration with Edwin A. Link as a non-profit research organization, then known as Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution.

In 1977, R/V Johnson with the Johnson Sea Link submarine was ordered to examine the wreckage of the ironclad Civil War battleship, USS Monitor. They were also used in the effort to recover the wreckage of the Space Shuttle Challenger after its destruction in 1986. One JSLs discovered the solid rocket booster with the faulty seal that had caused the shuttle to explode.

More Research and Alaskan Dreams

Troubled Times

1994 -2011
  • Bay Oceanographic Technology Inc. 1994 - 1997
  • owned by various companies & individuals 1997 - 2011;  Sold 21th Sept. 2011

After having served as research vessel (reportedly doing bathymetry work) for Bay Oceanographic Technology on the US east coast. until she was sold in 1997 and owned by various companies and individuals trying to convert her into a mini cruise vessel for nature & whale watching activities up in Alaska. Consequently the vessel was transferred 1998 to the US west coast (Washington) . Unfortunately all commercial ideas during the time from 1997 - 2011 were apparently frustrated due to a number of issues, leaving the vessel for some years alongside Fishermans Terminal / Seattle and with an obvious maintenance deficit. The massive aft submarine crane and the hyperbaric chamber entrance tunnel had been removed in 2008.


Restoration/Refitting and private Excursions

Sudamericana Times

Fundacion Sudamericana de Exploracion Sept. 2011 until today

After 1 year of extensive preparation work at Seattles Fishermans Terminal she left Seattle in Sept. 2012 with destination Panama City / Republic of Panama. On this approx. 4700 NM long voyage she visited San Diego / USA and Cabo San Lucas / Mexico. Currently R/V Planet is based and registered in Panama as private yacht, frequently visiting remote shores and islands part of the panamenian & colombian waters on the pacific and caribbean side.

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