Thorsborg, Ltd. has assisted high school students in teaching seamanship and sailing through support of Sea Scout programs in Georgia and Florida.  Training has included sailing instruction, vessel maintenance, offshore navigation and marlinspike techniques.  Plans exist for the acquisition of a fleet of small sailing craft, (Club 420’s) for sail and race training activities for teenage co-ed youth.

RS Valkyrie:

Thorsborg, Ltd. has determined that there is a need for training and operational research experience in civilian submersibles and/or submarines.  Plans are being developed for the acquisition of a small civilian diesel-electric submarine that would be used for a long-term environmental study of the littoral zone on the eastern coast of the United States.  This program would have a professional staff augmented by qualified students to assist in the on-board experiments and data collection of undersea topography, digital sea floor imagining, ocean chemistry and underwater video techniques. The data baseline obtained by these missions will be used for comparison when the process is repeated in subsequent years.

 RV Njord:

Thorsborg, Ltd. recognizes that many marine studies have been compromised by the consequences of the act of the sampling process. The use of internal combustion powered surface ships that have been operated for marine research for the past two centuries may have inadvertently limited the data collection by virtue of the noise emitted from the propulsion system. There is a new version of a modern research vessel that has been developed for coastal areas that would allow for a trawler-type open stern work area on a sailing vessel.  The prototype of this new fleet of research vessels has been conducting research with marine mammals off the coast of California at a reduced cost, (less fuel) and greater success of insitu observation of sea creatures, (no engine noise). With commitment of appropriate funding, a sister ship will be constructed and operated on the east coast of the United States. Thorsborg, Ltd. intends to use this vessel for active marine research as well as serve as a platform for voyages with high school age youth to introduce them to marine research and on-board life.