AGOR 23 Thompson
Oceanographic Research Ship
These research ships provide general purpose oceanographic research capabilities in coastal and deep ocean areas. They are capable of collecting oceanographic, acoustic and geophysical data and have the speed and endurance to meet worldwide ocean research and data collection requirements year round. The ships are 274 feet in length, have a beam of 53 feet and displace 3,250 tons fully loaded.
The mission of the Oceanographic Research Ship (AGOR 23 class) is to provide general purpose oceanographic research capabilities in coastal and deep ocean areas. Typical scientific missions will include: Physical, Chemical and Biological Oceanography; Multi-discipline Environmental Investigations; Ocean Engineering and Marine Acoustics; and Marine Geology and Geophysics. In addition to these scientific roles, the AGOR 23 is also be called upon to perform survey tasks (bathymetry, gravimetry, and magnetometry) in deep ocean and coastal areas.
To carry out the mission, the AGOR 23 is capable of performing the following tasks: Oceanographic sampling and data collection of surface, midwater and sea floor parameters using state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation; Launch, recovery and towing of scientific packages, both tethered and autonomous, including the handling, monitoring and servicing of remotely operated vehicles; Shipboard data processing and sample analyses in modern well-equipped scientific laboratories; Precise navigation and station keeping and track-line maneuvering to support deep sea and coastal surveys.
Design and outfitting provide for rapid scientific payload changes and for ship turnarounds and redeployments. This includes optimum access to work and storage areas, and laboratory facilities to permit changeout of electronics and other laboratory internal equipment.
The choice of shipboard hull and machinery systems, their location and their installation minimize interference with the operation of shipboard scientific acoustic systems. All radiators and receptors of electromagnetic energy and related electronics on the AGOR 23 are designed and installed to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and to avoid hazards of electromagnetic radiation to personnel (HERP) and fuels (HERF).
The objective of the AGOR 23 Ship Acquisition Program was to acquire an oceanographic research ship to meet worldwide ocean research and data collection requirements. The 274-ft. Auxiliary General Oceanographic Research (AGOR) 23-class vessels are equipped with the latest oceanographic and scientific equipment and instruments, and have almost 4,000 square feet of laboratory space. With an endurance of more than 11,000 nautical miles at 12 knots, they have the speed, endurance, and seakeeping capabilities needed to meet worldwide research and data collection needs. The AGOR 23 was built to commercial standards and complied with all the applicable laws of the United States and the requirements of the regulatory bodies, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), 46 CFR Subchapter U (Oceanographic Ships), Public Health Service and Federal Communications Commission, in force at the time of delivery. Design included emphasis on economy of operation. Because of limitations of potential operating institutions' berthing facilities, the ship could not exceed a draft of 17 feet and a length overall of 275 feet. Compliance with the General Specifications for Ships of the U.S. Navy, NAVSEA Technical Manuals, or other military requirements, was not required.
The Department of the Navy christened the Oceanographic Research Ship, R/V Roger Revelle (AGOR-24), during a ceremony at 1 p.m., Thursday, April 20, 1995, at Halter Marine, Moss Point, Mississippi. The Roger Revelle was the first of three ships under contract with Halter Marine. The Roger Revelle and AGOR 25, upon delivery, are managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). These ships are operated by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, respectively. Roger Revelle is named after the late Roger R. D. Revelle (1909-1991), a renowned oceanographer. A distinguished university researcher and professor, wartime naval officer and officer in charge of the oceanographic section of the Bureau of Ships (now Naval Sea Systems Command), Dr. Revelle established the Office of Naval Research and headed its Geophysics Branch; directed the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, California; and founded the University of California at San Diego. After World War II, he confirmed the Navy's role in funding oceanographic expeditions by assisting in the conversion of Navy ships to research vessels.
The RONALD H. BROWN is the third ship built under a contract to build one ship for the Navy-funded university fleet with options to build two additional ships. The contract was awarded competitively to Halter Marine by the Naval Sea Systems Command. The first and second ships are operated by Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Through an agreement with the Navy, NOAA exercised the option in February 1994 to build a ship for the NOAA fleet. The RONALD H. BROWN is operated and managed by the Office of NOAA Corps Operations, which consists of NOAA Corps commissioned officers and civilian staff. It was the first ship the Commerce agency had built in more than 16 years, and replaced one of two aging oceanographic ships retired later in 1996.
The need for a next-generation research vessel in the NOAA fleet, to replace the 60's era vessels OCEANOGRAPHER, DISCOVERER, and RESEARCHER (later renamed MALCOLM BALDRIGE), was first recognized in the NOAA Fleet Modernization Program in the early 1990's. The opportunity to acquire a new vessel through an existing contract for the Naval AGOR 24-Class ships was recognized as the best option to meet the needs of the NOAA fleet. The new NOAA AGOR-24 was originally intended to be named RESEARCHER, following the tradition of the original NOAA Class I fleet. However, on April 3rd, 1996, the untimely death of Ronald H. Brown, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and an ardent supporter of the NOAA fleet, gave cause to the memorial action of naming the new ship in his memory.
In 1984 a new Secretary of the Navy/Chief of Naval Operations “Navy Policy on Oceanography” included a requirement for replacement of the aging AGOR 3 class. This initiative involved a major overhaul of Melville and Knorr, and design and construction of the AGOR 23 class—with deliveries in 1991 (R/V Thomas G. Thompson), 1996 (R/V Roger Revelle), and 1997 (R/V Atlantis).
R/V Thompson is owned by the Office of Naval Research and operated by UW's School of Oceanography under a charter party agreement. The Global-class ship conducts oceanographic research throughout the world's oceans while also providing seagoing experiential opportunities for UW students aspiring to become oceanographers. R/V Thompson is an important part of the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet of research vessels that conduct oceanographic research in support of national and institutional scientific objectives. The Thompson is the first of the three ship AGOR-23 class of research vessels built by the U.S. Navy in the 1990s at Halter Marine in Moss Point, MS.
The R/V Thomas G. Thompson is owned by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and operated under a Charter Party agreement by the School of Oceanography at the University of Washington as part of the UNOLS fleet (University National Oceanographic Laboratories System). The R/V Thomas G. Thompson (AGOR-23) was constructed by Halter Marine and was delivered to ONR on 8 July 1991. The Thompson is 274 ft in length, 52.5 ft. beam, and at full load has a 19 foot draft. The normal cruising speed is 11 knots, and offers a ships complement for 21 officers and crew, 2 marine technicians and berthing for up to 36 scientists.
With the construction and delivery of the Small-Waterplane Area-Twin Hull (SWATH) vessel R/V Kilo Moana in 2002, ONR’s fleet of six research ships was fully modernized. Planning for replacement of the AGOR 14 Class began in 2001, and eventually resulted in the design and construction of the AGOR 27 (R/V Neil Armstrong) and AGOR 28 (R/V Sally Ride), incorporating 21st-century commercial vessel efficiencies and state-of-the-art oceanographic instrumentation.
The UH’s School of Ocean Earth Science and Technology operates two submarines and the AGOR 26 R/V Kilo Moana. The Moana is a general purpose oceanographic research ship designed to operate in coastal and blue water areas. Its unique small waterplane area twin (SWATH) hull form provides a comfortable, stable platform in high sea conditions. The UH deploys its submarines and the Kilo Moana all around the world doing important oceanographic research. UH’s Center of Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE) studies microbial oceanography, which is the scientific discipline concerned with the biology and ecology of microorganisms that inhabit the sea.
The University of Washington has awarded a contract for the Mid-Life Overhaul of Research Vessel (R/V) Thomas G. Thompson to Vigor Marine of Seattle, WA for an amount of $23,271,485. Through a competitive bidding process UW determined that Vigor afforded the best value proposal to conduct the extensive mid-life refit of R/V Thompson. The intent of the mid-life overhaul is to overcome system obsolescence, comply with new environmental requirements, and ensure the ship's reliable and efficient operation while also continuing to effectively support scientific research. The mid-life refit will serve to extend the ship's service life an additional 20-25 years. The mid-refit includes re-powering the ship with new diesel engines, generators, electrical drives, switchboards, alarm & monitoring, and control systems plus extensive work on numerous other systems. R/V Thompson was first launched in 1990 and entered service in 1991. The ship is expected to enter the Seattle shipyard for the overhaul in June 2016 and the work was expected to be complete late spring 2017.
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