US Army Corps of Engineers work boat working in the waters of the Beaufort Inlet off Fort Macon Atlantic Beach NC-USA.
This is the inlet in and out of the NC State Port at Morehead City.
I *think* she was doing survey and sounding work as she came by many times, but this is only a guess on my part. Maybe a reader can advise better.
Taken from the beach overlook at Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach NC.