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Since the early days of our nation, NOAA and its predeceasing agencies have utilized fleets of ships and boats to survey America’s oceans and coasts—ensuring the safe and steady flow of commerce and traffic on America’s ‘marine highways.’
Today, NOAA operates three large survey ships—Fairweather, Rainier, and Thomas Jefferson. Each of these vessels are equipped with sophisticated echo sounding technology that measure water depths and identify submerged hazards to navigation. All three vessels contain 2-6 smaller boats (launches) that can be lowered into the water and conduct survey work in shallow areas. A fourth large survey vessel, Ferdinand R. Hassler, is presently under construction.
A brand new survey vessel, Bay Hydro II, is based in the Chesapeake Bay area. It contains many of the features of the large vessels, but is easily deployable to conduct emergency surveys following a shipping accident, vessel grounding, or hurricane in the Mid-Atlantic.
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey also operates six small boats—Navigation Response Teams (NRTs)—that are trailerable by truck to any destination in the Continental United States. These vessels are operated by 3-person teams and are always on stand-by to respond to natural and shipping disasters that could threaten the safe flow of marine traffic into America’s ports and harbors. |
