open/close

Website Options

Options below affect the visual display. Choices are stored using browser cookies.

  • The low bandwidth option causes most images to disappear and stops external fonts from loading.

  • The underlined links option causes all website links to become underlined, making them easier to distinguish.

  • The high contrast option causes colors to change to mostly black and white.

Utility Navigation

Marine Operations

NOAA operates the nation's largest fleet of oceanographic research and survey ships.

Specifications

Ronald H. Brown Specifications (OMAO , pdf, 203.38 KB)

Design Specifications
Designer Halter Marine
Builder Halter Marine, Inc., Moss Point, MS
Launched May 30, 1996  
Delivered April 18, 1997 
Commissioned July 19, 1997 
Length 274 ft.
Breadth 52.5 ft.
Draft 19 ft.
Depth to Main Deck 26.5 ft.
Hull Description Welded steel/ice strengthened 
Displacement 3250 tons
Speed & Endurance
Emergency Speed 15 knots
Cruising Speed 11 knots
Range 11,300 nm
Endurance 60 days
Endurance Constraint Food
Maximum Complement
Commissioned Officers/Mates 6
Engineers, Licensed 4
Engineer, Unlicensed 4
Deck 8
Survey 2
Stewards 4
Electronic Technicians 1
USPHS Medical Officer 1
Total Crew 30
Scientists 30
Berthing
Single Staterooms 9
Double Staterooms 24
THREE-person Stateroom  1
Total Berths 60
Food Service Seating Capacity
Mess Room 32
Ship's Navigational Equipment
Radars (X and S Band) 2 Furuno FAR 21x7 
GPS and DGPS 2 Furuno GP-150 & 2 Trimble SPS 351
Gyro Compass Teledyne Meridian Standard 
Deepwater and Shallow Navigational Echosounders Kongsberg EM122, Bathy 2010, CHIRP 3260 / Furuno FE-700 
ECDIS TRANSAS (Bridge, Aft Bridge, CO Cabin)
Scientists' Navigational Equipment
GPS AND DGPS Furuno GP-150 / Applanix POS MV / Trimble SPS 351
GYRO COMPASS Teledyne Meridian Standard 
DEEPWATER AND SHALLOW NAVIGATIONAL ECHOSOUNDERS Kongsberg EM122, Bathy 2010, CHIRP 3260, Furuno FE-700
ECDIS TRANSAS (Bridge)
Charting Program with Ship’s Position OpenCPN with NEMA String Broadcast Through Network 
Laboratory Spaces and Other Scientific Spaces
TypeLocationFt.2Description
Computer Lab  Main Deck Port Side  610 Kongsberg EM122 / ADCP / SyQwest Bathy 2010 / Knudsen CHIRP 3260 / CTD Control Console 
Bio Lab  Main Deck Port Side  330 Separate air conditioning and ventilation system / Fume hood / Seawater Access 
Main Lab  Main Deck Starboard Side  1745 2 Large Sinks / Seawater Access / Portable Lab Benches
Hydro Lab  Main Deck Port Side  693 PCO2 System / Temperature controlled Autosal room /Large Sink / TSG
Wet Lab  Main Deck Starboard Side  230 XBT Station / Fume Hood / Sink / Seawater Access 
Staging Bay  Main Deck  330 18’ Clearance / Roll down doors to protect against weather 
Scientific Freezer  Main Deck Port Side 63  Minimum temperature is -10 F
Scientific Refrigerator  Main Deck Port Side  63  Minimum temperature is 38 F
Van/Shipping Container (provide in advance a draft van deck placement footprint with approximate weights) 4 x O2 deck forward, 4 x aft main deck, 1 x starboard 02 deck     Support 9 x 20' ISO mobile container units
Store Room  Main Deck Forward  358  3 Tiered Shelving for storage
Scientific Data Collection Systems and Supportable Operations
Acoustic Current Doppler Profilier (ADCP)  RD Instruments 75 kHz Ocean Surveyor with UHDAS software
Scientific Diver Support

Air Compressor onboard and 4 NOAA working divers
Thermosalinograph  SBE21 at intake, SBE45 in hydro lab
Scientific Computer System Equipped NOAA SCS v.4.9.0
Multibeam Equipped for Hydrographic Surveys Kongsberg EM122 with SIS software
Expendable BathyThermographs (XBT) Capable   Sippican MK21 software and probe launcher. Program must provide probes.
CONDUCTIVITY, TEMP., DEPTH (CTD) WITH WATER SAMPLES Seabird SBE 9+ CTD, 11+ deck unit and SBE32 water sampler
Atmospheric co2 data collection pCO2 system operated by survey technicians. Owned by AOML
fluorometer Installed inline Turner, data output available in SCS
Boats
TypeHPLengthMax. PersonsComments
Rescue Boat (SOLAS Approved)  230 22  9  
Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) 100 17  4  
Additional Capabilities
Dynamic Positioning Capable  Kongsberg DP system, K-POS DP11
Reson 70 sound velocity profiler

2 sensors located amidships. Both sensors feed SCS but only the starboard sensor feeds the Kongsberg EM 122
Access to Clean Electrical Power 

Clean electrical power available throughout the ship. Two motor generator sets installed
Compressed Air  120 PSI compressed air available throughout the ship and accessible from van slots 
Saltwater rinse Hose available on the main deck, starboard side for scientific use to rinse equipment & nets

Deck Equipment

Winch – CTD (Hydro Boom)
Quantity 2
Manufacturer Markey
Model DESH-5
Drive Electronically Controlled DC motor and brake
Max. Pull 8100 lbs.
Max. Depth 8000 m
Drum Capacity 10,000m of .322" conductor cable
Type of Cable Installed .322" conductor cable
Length of Cable on the drum 8000 m
Location 02 Deck, Starboard, Amidships
Hydro Boom
Quantity 1
Manufacturer Markey
Model Shipboard Boom model 15000
SWL (lbs) 12000 lbs.
Reach Over Side 12 ft.
Location 02 Deck, Starboard
Winch – Traction, Dual Drum route to A – Frame or Crane
Quantity 1
Manufacturer Markey
Model DUTW-11 
Drive Electronically Controlled DC motor and brake
Max. Pull 8100 lbs.
Max. Depth 15000 m
Drum Capacity 10,000 m of .680" conductor cable; 15000 m of 9/16" wire rope
Type of Cable Installed .680" conductor cable; 9/16" wire rope
Length of Drum Cable 10,000 m / 15,000 m
Location Winch room, below deck
Crane, Telescopic Boom
Quantity 2
Manufacturer North American 
model MCT-165
Boom Length 65 ft.
Lifting Capacity 42,000 lbs. at 10' 
Location Main Deck Starboard, O1 Deck Port
Crane, Portable, Foldable Boom
QUANTITY 1
MANUFACTURER HIAB
Model HIAB 180 SeaCrane
BOOM LENGTH 40 ft.
LIFTING CAPACITY 14,000 lbs. at 10' 
LOCATION Main Deck Port
A Frame 
Quantity 1
Clearance over the side 15 ft.
Horizontal Clearance 20 ft.
Safe Working Load 21,200 lbs.
Location Fantail
Anchor - Bow
Quantity 2
Type Stockless
Weight 4850 lbs.
Port Anchor Chain Length 135 fathoms, 9 shots
Starboard Anchor Chain Length 120 fathoms, 8 shots
Boat Davit
QuantityManufacturerHoist Cap.LocationBoat Type
1  Miranda 5,375 Starboard O-2  Rescue Boat 

Medical Facilities

One medical treatment room containing two berths for patients. Emergency and first-aid equipment aboard, administered by designated vessel personnel. USPHS medical officer onboard.  

You are here: http://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/marine-operations/ships/ronald-h-brown/about/specifications
Reviewed: July 17, 2017. Contact us with page issues.

*ac
"Access controlled" content.
take a survey
top