NOAA * SHIPS & AIRCRAFT

Sea Power, Jan 2004

THE SHIPS OF THE NOAA FLEET

MILLER FREEMAN (R223)

A 215-foot stern trawler, Miller Freeman is the largest fisheries research vessel in the United States. Equipped with a retractable centerboard, which when deployed places acoustic and remote oceanographic-sensing devices below acoustic-interference layers generated by the vessel. Miller Freeman engages in stock assessment of fisheries and related oceanographic processes in the waters of the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and North Pacific Ocean. She is equipped with six scientific lab spaces, a Wesmar HD-670 scanning sonar, and a variety of other acoustic systems.

THOMAS JEFFERSON (S222)

A 208-foot former Navy hydrographic survey vessel (ex-USNS Littlehales T-AGS 52), Thomas Jefferson-commissioned on July 8, 2003-carries two survey launches and is equipped with an intermediate-depth swath survey system and towed side-scan sonars. All are used to accomplish surveys in support of the nation's nautical charting program. Thomas Jefferson normally operates along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in U.S. territorial waters in the Caribbean.

McARTHUR II (R330)

A 224-foot converted former Navy Stalwart-class ocean-surveillance ship (USNS Indomitable T-AGOS 7), McArthur II-commissioned on May 20, 2003, as a replacement for McAnhur (S330)-conducts oceanographic research, marine mammal population studies, and environmental assessments along the West Coast of the United States and throughout the Southwestern Pacific Ocean. Her systems and equipment give her a wide range of acoustic, chemical, meteorological, and biological data-collection capabilities.

OREGON II (R332)

A 170-foot side trawler, Oregon II conducts fishery and living-marine-resource research and is capable of using trawling, surface, and mid-water larval and plankton nets as well as benthic long-lines. Oregon II is equipped with a shallow-water echo sounder, vertical fishfinder, EK-500 scientific depth sounder, and narrow-beam stabilized transducer. This vessel normally operates along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and in the Caribbean Sea. Oregon II eventually will be replaced by the third Oscar Dyson-class fisheries survey vessel which will be built by VT Halter Marine.

KA'IMIMOANA (R333)

A 224-foot former Navy Stalwart-class ocean surveillance ship (ex-USNS Titan T-AGOS 15) converted to conduct oceanographic research, Ka 'imimoana is primarily involved in programs designed to improve man's understanding of the tropical ocean's role in modifying the world climate. The ship deploys, recovers, and services deep-sea moorings and, while underway, measures ocean currents, as well as surface salinity and carbon dioxide content, and collects upper-air atmospheric soundings.

RONALD H. BROWN (R104)

A 274-foot atmospheric- and oceanographic-research vessel, Ronald H, Brown is one of the most technologically advanced research ships in the world, enabling NOAA to remain in the forefront of investigating global environmental processes. The R104 is equipped with an advanced meteorological, scientific Doppler radar unique to the U.S. research fleet. The ship completed an around-the-world expedition in 1999. The ship's schedule is driven by the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS).

RAINIER (S221)

A 231-foot vessel designed to conduct hydrographic surveys in support of the nation's nautical charting program, Rainier operates primarily off the Pacific Coast and in Alaskan waters. Rainier, which can deploy as many as eight small craft to collect data at one time, is equipped with an intermediate-depth swath survey system, a differential global positioning system (GPS), and towed side-scan sonars that are used to assist in surveying the ocean bottom.

GORDON GUNTER (R336)

A 224-foot former U.S. Navy Stalwart-class ocean-surveillance ship (USNS Relentless T-AGOS 18), Gordon Gunter was converted to conduct fisheries research, fisheries stock assessments, and marine-mammal studies. The ship is home for a custom-designed marine-mammal observation-and-survey station, making the Gordon Gunter one of the best-equipped, acoustically quieted vessels engaged in this work.

ALBATROSS IV (R342)

A 187-foot stern trawler that conducts fishery and living-marine-resource stock-assessment research off the Northeast Atlantic Coast, Albatross IV features a stern with 1,080 square feet of open space accessible by a 5-ton boom. She has five lab spaces, including a photographic/oceanographic/chemistry lab, and a variety of acoustic systems, including deep- and shallow-water depth sounders.

Construction began in 2002 on Oscar Dyson, the first of four new fisheries survey vessels being built by VT Halter Marine to replace or supplement NOAA's aging fisheries ships. Oscar Dyson, which is an addition to the fleet, will become operational in 2004, homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. NOAA received $38.8 million in fiscal year 2002 to begin construction of the second ship (to replace Albatross IV); the FY 2003 budget requests the remainder of the funding needed to complete it in 2005.