With excitement and waves -- the human kind and the watery kind -- RiverQuest's Explorer, the program's new flagship boat, traveled through the Emsworth Lock and Dam and then cruised up the Ohio River to a grand arrival at the Point today.

Appearance of the 90-foot, $3.5 million boat prompted celebration from RiverQuest officials who said the "floating laboratory" and "floating classroom" will allow their river education program to expand significantly.

The boat's key feature is the fact it's the first boat to be completely designed as "green," referring to its environmentally friendly design. It includes a hydrid diesel-electric engine and special lighting, windows, construction materials and other features that meet or exceed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, green-building standards.

"Making it a green boat added a million to the cost," said RiverQuest President Jim Roddey, adding that the boat exemplifies the importance of environmental awareness and importance of the rivers to the region.

With Explorer docked outside the Carnegie Science Center on the North Side, the existing RiverQuest boat, an older 70-foot-long vessel named Discovery, soon will be retired, Mr. Roddey said.

Explorer can hold 150 people, compared with 40 on Discovery. The boat will be equipped to accommodate 90 students on its two decks, which will include a river laboratory and classroom.

RiverQuest's mission is to connect people to the environment through river education adventures.