Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) celebrated the arrival of the research vessel R/V Neil Armstrong on April 6. Named after the first man who walked on the moon, the ship was greeted with cannon fire and brass band.
The newest of seven academic fleets in the United States, this vessel is designed to explore the oceans around the globe.
After years of construction, the country's most advanced research vessel is expected to begin a new chapter in research of the world's oceans. It studies everything from the minutest creatures to the largest fishes that thrive deep in the oceans.
The vessel was accompanied by R/V Tioga and a boat of the U.S. Coast Guard.
"It's an exciting day with glorious weather," said president of WHOI, Mark Abbott.
"The ship will be here for at least 50 years and reaffirms WHOI's commitment to going to sea and working together to tackle problems facing the ocean and the planet," he added.
Shipbuilding company Dakota Creek Industries, built the vessel in Anacortes, Washington. It sailed off the West Coast in November 2015 and passed through San Francisco, the Panama Canal and Charleston, South Carolina. It's operated by the WHOI but it's still owned by the U.S. Army.
Measuring 238 feet long, it's a little shorter than its predecessor, the R/V Knorr, which measured 279 feet long. The R/V Knorr was designed to carry out ocean science research for 44 years.
The Neil Armstrong is the newest in a series of ships operated by WHOI since about eight decades ago. One of its vessels, Atlantis, is the country's first vessel designed to conduct research of oceans.
"This is an achievement that is measured more in generational terms because of the time it takes to do this, than in years or even decades," said Congressman Bill Keating. "The last time such an event took place at WHOI was 1997, with the arrival of R/V Atlantis," he added.
The vessel can accommodate 24 scientists and a crew of 20 during explorations for up to 40 days. It's equipped with high-tech sensors to guide scientists in their quest to study the ocean.
Photo: Office of Naval Research | Flickr
