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Utility Navigation

Marine Operations

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

Specifications

Nancy Foster Specifications (OMAO , pdf, 169.07 KB)

Design Specifications
Designer McDermott, Inc.
Builder McDermott, Inc.
Amelia, LA
Launched September 1990
Delivered from Navy, 2001
Commissioned May 10, 2004
Length 187 ft.
Breadth 40 ft.
Draft 11.2
Hull Description Welded Steel
Displacement 1,190 long tons
Speed & Endurance
Emergency Speed  
Cruising Speed 10.5 knots
Range 3500 nm
Endurance 15 days
Endurance Constraint Food
Maximum Complement
Commissioned Officers/Mates 6
Engineers, Licensed 3
Engineer, Unlicensed 2
Deck 6
Survey 2
Stewards 2
Electronic Technicians 1
USPHS Medical Officer (1)
Total Crew 22
Scientists 15
Berthing
Single Staterooms 5
Double Staterooms 10
Four-person Staterooms 3
Total Berths 37
Food Service Seating Capacity
Mess Room 16
Ship's Navigational Equipment
Radars (X and S Band) Furuno FAR-2825 (X-band), FAR-2835S (S-band)
GPS and DGPS Furuno GP-7000, Furuno GP-150, Furuno GP-37
Gyro Compass Meridian Surveyor (2)
Deepwater and Shallow Navigational Echosounders Furuno FE-700 (200 kHz shallow, 50 kHz deep)
ECDIS Transas Navi-Sailor 4000 Multi-Function Displays with installed raster and vector nautical charts (2)
AIS SAAB R5 Supreme AIS transponder
Scientist's Navigational Equipment
GPS and DGPS Trimble DSM132 DGPS, Applanix POS/MV v4
Gyro Compass Meridian Surveyor (repeater in Wet Lab)
Deepwater and Shallow Navigational echosounders Knudsen 3200 echosounder (200kHz/12kHz)
Charting Program with Ship’s Position Hypack
Laboratory Spaces and Other Scientific Spaces
TypeLocationFt.2Description
Wet Lab Main Deck 416 scuba tank storage, fluorometer, TSG, fume hood, sample freezers, small hazmat locker, table and desk space
Dry Lab Main Deck 272 science computers, hydroacoustic survey computers
Electronics/Computer Lab Main Deck 272 same as dry lab above
Scientific Freezer Wet Lab    
Scientific Freezer Wet Lab    
Scientific Refrigerator Wet Lab    
Store Room Hold Deck    
Scientific Data Collection Systems and Supportable Operations
Conductivity, Temp., Depth (CTD) With Water Samples SBE-9/11plus with additional sensors optional: temperature: SBE-03P (2), conductivity: SBE- 04C (2), pump: SBE-05T (2), pH: SBE-18 (2), dissolved oxygen: SBE-43 (2), Seapoint SCF fluorometer, and Seapoint Turbidity sensor. SBE-32 carousel with 12 5L, internal Tefloncoated spring closure, niskins.
Multibeam Equipped for Biological Surveys Reson 7125 SV2, dual frequency (200kHz or 400kHz) shallow water system. Optimal range: 5-250m. Simrad EM1002, 95kHz. Optimal range: 200- 1000m
Scientific Computer System Equipped Version 4.7
Thermosalinograph SBE-21 with remote temperature SBE-38 and Seapoint SCF fluorometer
Acoustic Current Doppler Profilier (ADCP) Teledyne RDI Ocean Surveyor 150kHz. Optimal range: 450m.
Conductivity, Temp., Depth (CTD) Without Water Samples SBE-19 (2), pressure housing rated to 600m and 1000m
Thermosalinograph SBE-45
Fisheries Acoustics Simrad EK60 Fisheries Acoustic suite, 38kHz, 120kHz and 200kHz.
Echosounder Knudsen 3200 Singlebeam Echosounder, 12kHz or 200kHz. Optimal range: 0-7000m.
POS/MV Applanix, v.4
Data Collected by the Ship's Scientific Computer System (SCS) in the Standard Configuration
DescriptionUnitsData Source
HDT - Heading (True) Deg. True Gyro
VTG - Track made good and ground speed KTS, Deg. Furuno 7000
GPS 1: GGA (Lat/Long, time) Deg. Furuno 7000
TSG (sequence, cell temp, salinity, bow temp, conductivity, fluorometer-Seapoint, Latitude, Longitude, Time) ALL data fields in one raw file Count, Deg.C, ppm, Deg.C, Sieme ns/m, v, Deg., Deg., Julian SBE-21
MET 1: MWV (Wind speed and direction, Relative) ALL data fields in one raw file KTS., Deg. RM Young, 05106
MET 1: XDR (air temp, relative humidity, wet bulb, barometer) ALL data fields in one raw file   RM Young
J-Frame (payout, speed) ALL data fields in one raw file m, m/s  
Sea Temp- Hull Deg.C Aimar B17
Depth 1 (DBT) ft., M, ft.m. Furuno FE-700
A-Frame (payout, speed) ALL data fields in one raw file m, m/s  
GPS 3 (GGA, VTG, HDT) Each in their own raw file   Applanix, v.4
GPS 2 (GGA, VTG) Each data field in their own raw file) KTS, Deg. Furuno GP150
MET 2: MWV (Wind speed and direction, Relative) ALL data fields in one raw file KTS., Deg. RM Young
TW (Wind direction and speed, True) KTS., Deg. RM Young (for MET 1, 2 and 3)
Depth 2 (DBT) m Knudsen 3200
MET 3: MWV (Wind speed and direction, Relative) ALL data fields in one raw file KTS., Dir. RM Young
Boats
IDTypeHPLengthMax. PersonsComments
NF1 Rescue Boat (SOLAS Approved)  60 18 7 by design rescue boat for man-overboard situations and other emergencies
NF2 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) 60 18.5 7 by design powered by outboard; used primarily for science diving operations and personnel transfers; 1,700-lb. max load including personnel and wet gear (typical arrangement: coxswain, coxswain-in-training, and 2 to 3 divers with gear)
NF3 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) 60 17.5 7 by design powered by outboard; used primarily for science diving operations and personnel transfers; 1,400-lb. max load including personnel and wet gear (typical arrangement: coxswain, coxswain-in-training, and 2 to 4 divers with gear)
NF4 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) 320 23 15 by design powered by jet drive; used primarily for science diving operations and personnel transfers; 3,300-lb. max load including personnel and wet gear (typical arrangement: coxswain, coxswain-in-training, and 4 to 6 divers with gear)
Additional Capabilities
Dynamic Positioning CapableBeier IVCS 2000
Compressed Air Bauer K-180 HP air compressor, Bauer NK-60 LP air compressor, NTX-4050-2 Nitrox Membrane System, Bauer CFS II fill station, and 12 compressed gas storage cylinders for filling scuba tanks with air or Nitrox

Deck Equipment

Winch – Oceanographic (J-Frame)
Quantity 1
Manufacturer Markey
Model COM 15
Drive 15HP, 460VAC 3 phase
Max. Pull 3,800 lbs.
Max. Depth 3000 m
Drum Capacity 5,000m of .322” conductor cable
Type of Cable Installed .322” conductor cable
Length of Cable on the drum 5000 m
Location 01 Deck, Starboard (toward J-frame)
Winch – (A or J-Frame)
Quantity 1
Manufacturer DT Marine
Model DT3030EHLWR
Drive 30HP, 460V AC 3 phase
Max. Pull 4000 lbs.
Length of Cable on the drum 1400 m
Location Main Deck or 01 Deck (movable with pier crane)
Winch – (A or J-Frame)
Quantity 1
Manufacturer DT Marine
Model DT210EHLWR
Max. Pull 2000 lbs
Drum Capacity 3000
Location Main Deck or 01 Deck (movable with pier crane)
Crane, Telescopic Boom
Quantity 1
Manufacturer North American
Boom Length 35 ft.
Lifting Capacity 2,325 lbs.
Location 01 Deck, Amidships
Crane, Knuckle Boom
Quantity 1
Manufacturer Good Crane
Model 40KSC10000
Boom Length 40 ft.
Lifting Capacity 10,000 lbs.
Location Main Deck, Aft
A Frame
Quantity 1
Type Moveable
Clearance over the stern 12.3 ft.
Horizontal Clearance 14 ft.
Safe Working Load 25,000 lbs (low-seas)
18,750 lbs (hi-seas)
Location Main Deck stern
J Frame
Quantity 1
Type Moveable
Clearance over the side 6 ft.
Vertical Clearance 13.9 ft.
Safe Working Load 5000 lbs.
Location Main Deck Port
Boat Davit
Quantity 1
Manufacturer WelinLambie
Model PIV 3.0B
Hoisting Capacity 6,600 lbs.
Location O1 Deck, Starboard
Boat type Rescue
Anchor - Bow
Quantity 2
Type Stockless
Port Anchor Chain Length 90 fathoms
Starboard Anchor Chain Length 105 fathoms

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Reviewed: July 17, 2017. Contact us with page issues.

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