The Badtz Maru is a large 120ft coastal patrol boat, a general type commonly used by many navies around the world to patrol coastal waters, enforcing fishing and other sea laws, and in the intradiction of contraband runners.

Before becoming the Badtz Maru, she served the Royal Air Force from 1970-1985, and the British Navy from 1985-1995. She is now privately owned by Badtz Maru LLC, primarily operated by Doug Humphrey (Founder, President, and CEO of Cidera, Inc.), and Lisa Losito (his wife and business partner). They purchased the Badtz on Yahoo's internet yacht auction site, for an undisclosed amount.

The Badtz Maru was registered as a recreational vessel, and is used in accordance with the allowances for that class. She is not a commercial vessel, nor is she a naval vessel of any kind for any country. She is Maryland registered and U.S. flagged.

"Badtz Maru" is the name of a cartoon character owned by the Sanrio Company of Japan, and it is used in strictly a non-commercial way. Maru is also the common desingation of Japanese ships.

The Badtz is maintained and run by a four member crew: Captain Tom Waite, Dom Journet, Pete Lindbergh, and Eunika Norman.

For more information about or to view images of the Badtz, click the Photos link above, or see the Badtz Maru site.