BAR HARBOR – College of the Atlantic has been awarded a federal grant of $80,000 to assist in the purchase of a medium-range response vessel to improve the Marine Mammal Stranding Response Program, which operates along the coast of Down East Maine.

The 25- to 30-foot rescue vessel will be operated by COA.

The grant is being awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and was announced this week by U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins.