NOAA orders another fisheries survey vessel

It covers construction of what will be the fifth in a series of 2,479 displacement tonne Oscar Dyson-class fisheries survey vessels built for the agency. The 63.5m long, 15.2m 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 lower 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 new vessel will replace the 1966 built David Starr Jordan and be operated by NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations where it will primarily support NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center from its homeport of San Diego.