VESSEL REVIEW | RIB daughter craft to support NOAA’s ocean-going assets

Alabama-based Silver Ships recently handed over a new rigid inflatable boat (RIB) that will be used as a daughter craft on the larger ocean-going research vessels of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The new boat will be operated by the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Researchers and scientists at the centre will operate the vessel as part of a broader initiative of preserving many endangered marine species, specifically right whales and sea turtles.

The RIB was custom-built by Silver Ships specifically for deployment from the NOAA’s ocean-going ships. It will operate offshore and deploy from a larger NOAA ship allowing scientists and researchers to collect accurate data. The boat will enable researchers to closely monitor marine life and provides mission-specific equipment to make sure research practices, such as biopsy darting of whales and turtle tagging, are conducted safely and efficiently.

The new NOAA boat has a length of 28 feet (8.5 metres), a beam of eight feet (2.4 metres), and a draught of 22 inches (0.55 metres). A hybrid air-and-foam collar provides improved stability essential for operation in deeper offshore waters while the reduced length will allow for safe transportation closer to the coast for certain research missions, such as when observing beaked whales in their natural habitat.

The vessel will be deployed to help collect needed research on specific marine life including sea turtles and whales. A customised turtle tagging platform allows for research biologists to efficiently hand-tag turtles that come to the surface of the water. A bow-mounted folding pulpit enables researchers to safely get over the water and more closely observe marine life such as whales and sea turtles without having to leave the relative safety of the boat.

An observer platform plays a key role at tracking surfaced marine animals. This platform can be elevated to a height of eight feet (2.4 metres) to provide the occupant with a clearer view of the water.

The RIB is powered by two Mercury SeaPro 115hp (85kW) outboard engines fitted with an 80-gallon (302-litre) fuel tank. A lifting point in the centre will enable the boat to be safely deployed into the water from a larger vessel.

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