Research Vessels of the National Marine Fisheries Service 



By 



ROBERT S. WOLF' 



National Marine Fisheries Service 



Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Base 



Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02453 



ABSTRACT 



The research fleet of the National Marine Fisheries Service (formerly the 

 Bureau of Commercial Fisheries) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- 

 ministration, U.S. Department of Commerce, is described in detail by individual 

 ship. The descriptions are accompanied by photographs. A brief text covering 

 fleet activities and modernization precedes the vessel descriptions. 



INTRODUCTION 



The National Marine Fisheries Service 

 (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of 

 Commerce, operates a research fleet to provide 

 its scientists and technicians with mobile plat- 

 forms on \\-hich they may more closely ap- 

 proach, observe, sample, and study commer- 

 cial and game fishes and associated plants 

 and animals and to test methods for their cap- 

 ture and utilization. As a means to the ser- 

 vice's end. these vessels average over half of 

 their useful life in a working capacity, with 

 the total annual fleet eff'ort estimated at 3,500 

 sea days ]3er year. Including vessel crews and 

 associated administrative shore personnel, but 

 not scientific staff, about 225 people are in- 

 volved in operating the fleet at an annual cost 

 of approximately $4 million (fiscal year 1969). 



While this paper was being put together, the 

 NMFS organization, program emphasis, and 



' Robert S. Wolf is serving as Chief, Exploratory 

 Fishing, UNSF/FAO Caribbean Fisheries Develop- 

 ment Project, Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies, on 

 leave from the National Marine Fisheries Service. 



funding underwent significant changes. Cor- 

 responding modification of vessel management 

 and utilization are not reflected in the paper. 

 The 1969-vintage general account of the fleet 

 and comprehensive descriptions and illustra- 

 tions of individual vessels remain valid, how- 

 ever. 



FLEET ACTIVITIES 



Each vessel is assigned to a parent activity 

 or group which is responsible for nearly all 

 phases of its operation and maintenance. The 

 parent group may be a Center, a Biological 

 Laboratory, an Exploratory Fishing and Gear 

 Research Base, or an associated Field Station. 



Operations 



The vessels operate primarily to serve the 

 resarch program needs of the parent organi- 

 zation. The ships are generally fitted out in 

 accordance with these needs. A few were ac- 

 tually designed and built specifically for that 

 group. Vessel sea time is usually divided 



