NOAA orders 15-metre research vessel

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has placed an order for an aluminium research vessel for the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

The Teknicraft-designed catamaran will be built at a US shipyard. It will have a length of 15 metres, space for up to 18 personnel, and two Cummins QSC8.3 main engines.

The vessel will host a variety of research missions and visiting scientists concentrating on seafloor mapping, habitat characterisation, data collection, and the monitoring of the health of ocean species and marine wildlife.