About the Gulf Coast Research Lab's Jim Franks and his namesake vessel

About Franks and his namesake vessel

The GCRL's Jim Franks

Serves on the Mississippi Wildlife Federation's Board of Directors, the Marine Fisheries Initiative panel, Highly Migratory Species panel, and is the chairman of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute.

The vessel Jim Franks

Length: 60 feet

Cost: $2 million

Planning: Begun in 2012

Use: Gulf fishing, barrier islands trips, water testing, trawling, long-lining and surveying

Maximum capacity: 40

Berths: 8

Special features: Interior and exterior wet labs and a dry laboratory on board

Note: GCRL will hold a commissioning ceremony this summer.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 9:17 PM with the headline "About the Gulf Coast Research Lab's Jim Franks and his namesake vessel ."