NEWS

On Nov. 9, the Seward Johnson was being painted in preparation for its coming departure.

It is FAU’s only research ship, and its sale this past summer raised controversy between administrators and faculty on the Harbor Branch campus, where it is currently docked. It was sold to a Brazilian environmental agency and is set to sail away this month.

The photo was e-mailed to the UP by a source who wished to remain unnamed.

“We did all we knew to do to save her,” the e-mail read.

Asked to confirm the status of the ship, FAU officials wrote by e-mail that “the boat has not yet been painted, and it isn’t set to go anytime real soon.”

Fifteen minutes after they were informed that the UP had a photo of the ship being painted, a new e-mail was sent.

“The painting has begun on one portion of the ship; however, the painting project is not complete,” an FAU spokeswoman wrote. “The ship is not expected to sail for a few weeks.”

The e-mail from the unnamed source ended:”So many people here are saddened by this. We The People, lost.”