The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a science-based agency established in 1970 as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA's mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and promote global environmental stewardship.
To carry out its mission, NOAA maintains a fleet of ships with various scientific capabilities from which to conduct research and data gathering relating to the oceans and atmosphere. Vessels range from small coastal craft used for research in estuaries and near-shore areas to deep water oceanographic ships able to provide scientists access to the waters of the world.
The NOAA fleet conducts many missions such as hydrographic surveys to support nautical charting requirements, oceanic and atmospheric research to determine both short and long-term global climatic changes, fisheries stock assessments, monitoring of coastal pollution trends, etc. These efforts directly support the work of every component of NOAA.
To accommodate NOAAs varied tasks and program missions, the vessels are equipped with specialized scientific laboratories, deck machinery, small boats and launches, sensors, computers for data collection and analysis, and electronic communications and navigation equipment. The vessels of the NOAA fleet are also flexible; highly specific equipment unique to the project at hand is often brought aboard by scientific parties.
The ships are staffed by civilian crews and officers of the NOAA Corps, one of the nation's seven uniformed services. All officers have degrees in science, engineering, or mathematics; many also possess advanced degrees, and maritime or other professional licenses. NOAA Corps officers and crews are well accustomed to successfully coping with the special problems and difficulties of conducting scientific research at sea, and have a proven record of safe and efficient operation of the fleet in all the world's oceans.
Providing NOAA with safe and reliable research platforms while operating in any ocean environment has been the task of the NOAA fleet and its NOAA Corps officers and crews ... a service to our nation that has been consistently and reliably met.
Additional information can be obtained from:
Office of NOAA Corps Operations
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1315 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
This appendix contains four pages of information and pictures of the NOAA Fleet. Page 1 contains DISCOVERER, MALCOLM BALDRIDGE, RAINIER and MILLER FREMAN. Page 2 is of McARTHUR, WHITING, OREGON II, ALBATROSS IV, and TOWNSEND CROMWELL. The ships listed on Page 3 are DAVID STARR JORDAN, DELAWARE II, CHAPMAN and FERREL. On Page 4 are JOHN N. COBB, RUDE, KA'IMIMOANA, and RESEARCHER.
