PORTLAND, Maine -- A Maine marine company plans to use its research vessel to deliver food and supplies to Louisiana fishing villages devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The 102-foot vessel Diamond will probably be accompanied by a small flotilla of shrimp-fishing boats when it leaves either Thursday or Friday from Florida.

The aim is to deliver much-needed water, food and supplies to Empire, Venice and other communities that line the river between the Gulf and New Orleans.

Greg Brooks is a partner for Portland-based Sub Sea Research LLC. He said he hopes to provide supplies to those isolated communities. Also, he said his sonar equipment can be used to mark the location of wrecked fishing boats.