NOAAS Ronald H. Brown
Encyclopedia
NOAAS Ronald H. Brown (R 104) is a blue-water research vessel
of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
. She was launched on May 30, 1996 at Halter Marine's Moss Point shipyard in Pascagoula
(the keel
being laid in February 1995) and then commissioned on July 19 in Charleston
. She was NOAA's first newly built oceanographic research vessel in 17 years.
The Brown is named for former Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown
, who was killed in a plane crash while in office. At 274 feet (83.5 m) in length, she is the largest vessel in the NOAA fleet. The hull of the ship is hardened against ice to allow for Arctic and Antarctic research. The ship has a total of 59 bunk spaces and can seat 30 at a time in her mess room
. The ship also includes a 4-bed hospital facility. She carries a complement of six NOAA Corps
officers, including one medical officer, 20 crew and a maximum of 32 scientists.
The deck equipment features three winches, two fixed cranes, a portable crane, a hydrographic boom and an A-frame. This equipment gives the Ronald H. Brown a lifting capacity of up to 42000 pounds (19,050.9 kg) as well as up to 10000 metres (32,808.4 ft) of cable that can pull up to 8100 pounds (3,674.1 kg). One of the winches is specifically for use with specialty cables such as optical fiber cables or coaxial EM Cable
.
As a research vessel, a substantial amount of the ship is dedicated to laboratories. Included in the 4100 square feet (380.9 m²) of lab space are a computer/electronics lab, a biochemical lab and a wet lab.
In addition to her state-of-the-art oceanographic sampling capabilities, the Ronald H. Brown has instrumentation to study the atmosphere, including a Doppler weather radar for a better understanding of storm dynamics at sea. This combined atmospheric and oceanographic sampling capability makes the ship unique in the world's research fleet. Scientists aboard the vessel study critical environmental issues across the world's oceans. She has participated in many national and international projects since 1997.
The Ronald H. Brown and three other research ships were all built to the same basic design. The three sister ships are R/V Thomas G. Thompson (UW
), R/V Roger Revelle
(Scripps) and R/V Atlantis
(Woods Hole
).
Research vessel
A research vessel is a ship designed and equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel, others require a dedicated vessel...
of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
. She was launched on May 30, 1996 at Halter Marine's Moss Point shipyard in Pascagoula
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
(the keel
Keel
In boats and ships, keel can refer to either of two parts: a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element. These parts overlap. As the laying down of the keel is the initial step in construction of a ship, in British and American shipbuilding traditions the construction is dated from this event...
being laid in February 1995) and then commissioned on July 19 in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. She was NOAA's first newly built oceanographic research vessel in 17 years.
The Brown is named for former Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown
Ron Brown (U.S. politician)
Ronald Harmon "Ron" Brown was the United States Secretary of Commerce, serving during the first term of President Bill Clinton. He was the first African American to hold this position...
, who was killed in a plane crash while in office. At 274 feet (83.5 m) in length, she is the largest vessel in the NOAA fleet. The hull of the ship is hardened against ice to allow for Arctic and Antarctic research. The ship has a total of 59 bunk spaces and can seat 30 at a time in her mess room
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
. The ship also includes a 4-bed hospital facility. She carries a complement of six NOAA Corps
NOAA Corps
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps is one of seven federal uniformed services of the United States, which operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , a scientific agency within the Department of Commerce...
officers, including one medical officer, 20 crew and a maximum of 32 scientists.
The deck equipment features three winches, two fixed cranes, a portable crane, a hydrographic boom and an A-frame. This equipment gives the Ronald H. Brown a lifting capacity of up to 42000 pounds (19,050.9 kg) as well as up to 10000 metres (32,808.4 ft) of cable that can pull up to 8100 pounds (3,674.1 kg). One of the winches is specifically for use with specialty cables such as optical fiber cables or coaxial EM Cable
Coaxial cable
Coaxial cable, or coax, has an inner conductor surrounded by a flexible, tubular insulating layer, surrounded by a tubular conducting shield. The term coaxial comes from the inner conductor and the outer shield sharing the same geometric axis...
.
As a research vessel, a substantial amount of the ship is dedicated to laboratories. Included in the 4100 square feet (380.9 m²) of lab space are a computer/electronics lab, a biochemical lab and a wet lab.
In addition to her state-of-the-art oceanographic sampling capabilities, the Ronald H. Brown has instrumentation to study the atmosphere, including a Doppler weather radar for a better understanding of storm dynamics at sea. This combined atmospheric and oceanographic sampling capability makes the ship unique in the world's research fleet. Scientists aboard the vessel study critical environmental issues across the world's oceans. She has participated in many national and international projects since 1997.
The Ronald H. Brown and three other research ships were all built to the same basic design. The three sister ships are R/V Thomas G. Thompson (UW
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
), R/V Roger Revelle
R/V Roger Revelle (AGOR-24)
R/V Roger Revelle is a research vessel operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography under charter agreement with Office of Naval Research as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System fleet. It was named for scientist Roger Revelle.-Built in Mississippi:Roger Revelle was...
(Scripps) and R/V Atlantis
R/V Atlantis (AGOR-25)
R/V Atlantis is an oceanographic research vessel operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System fleet. It is the host vessel of DSV Alvin...
(Woods Hole
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine science and engineering and to the education of marine researchers. Established in 1930, it is the largest independent oceanographic research...
).