Navy transfers surveillance ship to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
WASHINGTON (USTCNS) --- In a formal ceremony in Seattle, Wash., on Sept. 13, 2004, the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command transferred the ownership of USNS Capable to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For the past two years, the 224-foot ship has been deployed with the Pacific Fleet, performing air surveillance missions for the U.S. military. Now, as the first ship devoted exclusively to NOAA's ocean exploration program, she will explore the world's last unknown frontier -- the mysterious depths of earth's oceans.
Capable was originally built in the late 1980s to tow an array of underwater listening devices to collect acoustical data on submarines. The end of the Cold War signaled a reduced submarine threat from the former Soviet Union and, in response, MSC converted the ship for a new mission -- finding narcotics traffickers. From 1994 to 2002, Capable conducted drug interdiction patrols in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
"Capable has done an outstanding job serving the Navy fleet commanders and Military Sealift Command," said Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command. "I am confident that the ship will continue to provide excellent service to NOAA in future years."
Capable will be renamed through a ship-naming contest offered to students in grades six through 12 nationwide. Former Navy ships like Capable have helped modernize the NOAA fleet and serve as excellent research and operational platforms.
NOAA will equip the ship for ocean mapping, deployment of unmanned submersibles, scientific work in onboard laboratories and real-time transmission of images and data collected during ocean expeditions. The ship will carry multidisciplinary teams of scientist-explorers to investigate unknown or little known areas of earth's oceans.
"From the beginning, the transfer of this ship represents a great value to the U.S. taxpayer and, when converted, it will provide significant and long-term benefits to ocean exploration and research," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance and strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world.
For the past two years, the 224-foot ship has been deployed with the Pacific Fleet, performing air surveillance missions for the U.S. military. Now, as the first ship devoted exclusively to NOAA's ocean exploration program, she will explore the world's last unknown frontier -- the mysterious depths of earth's oceans.
Capable was originally built in the late 1980s to tow an array of underwater listening devices to collect acoustical data on submarines. The end of the Cold War signaled a reduced submarine threat from the former Soviet Union and, in response, MSC converted the ship for a new mission -- finding narcotics traffickers. From 1994 to 2002, Capable conducted drug interdiction patrols in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
"Capable has done an outstanding job serving the Navy fleet commanders and Military Sealift Command," said Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command. "I am confident that the ship will continue to provide excellent service to NOAA in future years."
Capable will be renamed through a ship-naming contest offered to students in grades six through 12 nationwide. Former Navy ships like Capable have helped modernize the NOAA fleet and serve as excellent research and operational platforms.
NOAA will equip the ship for ocean mapping, deployment of unmanned submersibles, scientific work in onboard laboratories and real-time transmission of images and data collected during ocean expeditions. The ship will carry multidisciplinary teams of scientist-explorers to investigate unknown or little known areas of earth's oceans.
"From the beginning, the transfer of this ship represents a great value to the U.S. taxpayer and, when converted, it will provide significant and long-term benefits to ocean exploration and research," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.
MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance and strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world.
Follow Us On:
