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When the University of Rhode Island’s research ship Endeavor topped off its 53,000-gallon fuel tanks last month, it filled up with refined biodiesel, making it the first ship in the U.S. research fleet to use the alternative fuel.

URI says this is step one in a plan to transform the 185-foot vessel into the most energy-efficient and “green” research vessel in the country.

“It is vitally important that as we study the marine environment around the world on this great research vessel that we have the smallest environmental impact possible,” said Dennis Nixon, associate dean for research and administration at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography. “We are committed to using biodiesel whenever the ship refuels in Rhode Island, and we will attempt to secure biodiesel when it refuels in distant ports as well.”

About 14,000 gallons of B5 biodiesel, produced by Newport Biodiesel and blended and delivered by Malloy Biodiesel, were delivered to the ship in December. The fuel contains about 5 percent biofuel mixed with diesel. The goal is to gradually increase the percentage of biofuel to about 20 percent.

The ship is powered by three diesel generators and a 3,000-horsepower engine.

Other on-board green efforts include more efficient lighting, galley appliances, water heaters, and water makers. The hope is that these efficiencies will enable the ship to use just one generator.

“That will save us thousands of gallons of fuel, make the ship much more quiet, and reduce harmful emissions,” Mr. Nixon said. “The more biodiesel we use, the fewer stack emissions we have.”

The next step in the greening of Endeavor will be to switch from petroleum-based hydraulic fluids to biodegradable vegetable-based hydraulic fluids.

Queen Bee’s epic voyage

Last seen in stormy weather off Nantucket, a 26-foot center-console boat has turned up 3 1/2 years later off the northern coast of Spain.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified about the discovery on Jan. 24, and was able to link the boat to a search and rescue case on Aug. 25, 2008, near Nantucket.

On that day, the Coast Guard had responded to reports of two men who had been tossed from the Queen Bee while attempting to cross a bar in 6- to 8-foot seas. Both men were able to swim to Esther Island where they were rescued.

“Three things popped out after we got hit,” said Scott Douglas, the boat owner and operator. “Rich (St. Pierre), me, and that bag” containing a life vest. “There were times when both of us didn’t think we were going to make it ... Everything had to go our way. It was a miracle.”

Due to the rough seas, the boat was left to drift, first into the Gulf Stream and then north to the North Atlantic Current, said the Coast Guard’s Art Allen. From there it would have headed east to Spain before being located 1,241 days later, after a 3,500-nautical mile trip.

Tiverton raft saves crew

Life Raft & Survival Equipment of Tiverton sold and serviced the life raft and EPIRB that saved the lives of two fishermen after their 55-foot fishing boat sank in 130 feet of water three miles northeast of Block Island on Saturday, Jan. 7.

The raft had been serviced annually after it was purchased in 2004 and was last serviced in April 2011.

The Coast Guard was alerted by the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) signal, and located the crew in the life raft at about 5 p.m.

Eric Cusick the technician at LRSE who serviced the life raft said, “We hear these scary stories way too often. Fortunately the crew diligently maintained their equipment so it would work at any given moment under any condition.”

Jobson launches lecture series

Gary Jobson, president of U.S. Sailing, will be the first of 12 speakers in a lecture series that begins Thursday, Feb. 2, at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. His illustrated talk is entitled “Sailing: Speed and Passion.”

Held on Thursdays, all programs include a reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Jacobs Family Gallery followed by the lecture at 7:30 in the Cook Memorial Theater.

For tickets, call 508/997-0046, ext. 100. Next up, on Feb. 16, is John Rousmaniere: “The Golden Pastime,” an illustrated history of American yachting.

Salty book club

The first meeting of the IYRS & Museum of Yachting Book Club, started for those interested in reading and discussing salty yarns, is Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m.

Up first is “A Voyage for Madmen,” by Peter Nichols, an account of the 1968 Golden Globe single-handed, solo, non-stop race around the world; only one sailor made it. Subsequent book choices will be voted on by participants.

To participate contact Jay Picotte, curator, at 401/848-5777, ext. 222, or jpicotte@moy.org.

The meeting is in IYRS’s Aquidneck Mill Building/Library, 449 Thames St., Newport.

Super Bowl driven

Winning this leg is key but the crew of Puma’s around-the-world racer Mar Mostro has another reason to make haste to Sanya, China.

Reports Amory Ross, “I happen to be a very big Giants fan, and Kenny (Read) and Rome (Kirby) happen to be very big Patriots fans ... We have all given Tom a very specific deadline for when we need to arrive in Sanya. I think he understands the magnitude of the New York/Boston rivalry well enough not to risk missing” the game.

Rain extends shellfish closures

A combination of rain (about a half inch in Providence and in Taunton) and snow melt overnight on Monday, Jan. 23, caused the R.I. Department of Environmental Management to close the Conimicut Triangle, Greenwich Bay, Kickemuit River and Mt. Hope Bay to shellfishing. Then more rain on Friday, Jan. 27, (about three-quarters of an inch in Taunton) extended the closures.

The areas are now due to reopen at sunrise on Sunday, Feb. 5. For updates on conditional areas, call the DEM hotline at 222-2900.

IYRS offers scholarships

New scholarships are offered for students at the International Yacht Restoration School’s full-time programs beginning this fall. Two of these, the IYRS Craftsmanship Scholarship and the Marine Systems Scholarship, will cover 50 percent of tuition.

IYRS offers three full-time programs in boatbuilding and restoration, marine systems and composites technology.

For more, call 401/848-5777, ext. 205, or visit admissions@iyrs.org.