NOAA orders another fisheries survey vessel

It covers construction of what will be the fifth in a series of Oscar Dyson-class fisheries survey vessels built for the agency. The 63.8m long, 15m wide newbuilding will be equipped with a full suite of instrumentation for fisheries and oceanographic research, including advanced navigation systems, acoustic sensors, scientific sampling gear and extensive laboratories. The high-tech ship will also produce much less noise than other survey vessels, allowing scientists to study fish populations and collect oceanographic data with fewer effects on fish and marine mammal behaviour.

The vessel will be operated by NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and will primarily support NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center.