USNS Stalwart (T-AGOS-1)

USNS "Stalwart" (T-AGOS-1) was a Modified Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship and the lead ship of the T-AGOS vessels.

"Stalwart" was laid down on 3 November 1982 by the Tacoma Boat Building Company and launched on 11 July 1983 and placed into service on 12 April 1984 with the Military Sealift Command.

History

"Stalwart" class ships were originally designed to collect underwater acoustical data in support of Cold war anti-submarine warfare operations in the 1980s. During these years, USNS "Stalwart" was on patrol for Soviet Navy submarines. Data was collected using the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS), comprised of listening devices and electronic equipment that transmit the acoustic data via satellite to shore for analysis. SURTASS is a linear array of 8,575 ft deployed on a 6,000 ft (1.8 km) tow cable and neutrally buoyant. The array can operate at depths between 500 and 1,500 ft (150 and 450 m).

"Stalwart" and two sister ships, ex-"USNS Indomitable (T-AGOS-7)" and ex-"USNS Capable (T-AGOS-16)" were later converted to serve in the War on Drugs under Joint Interagency Task Force - East. Underwater SURTASS sensors were removed and the AN/SPS-49 long range air search radar and Link 11 were added to aid in location of drug smugglers. This equipment was later removed prior to the transfer to SUNY-Maritime as a cadet training and port security research and development vessel.

This monohulled ship was stricken from the Navy registry on December 2, 2002 and transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration which donated it to State University of New York Maritime College, with the promise of $300,000 in federal funds for repairs and upgrades that never materialized.

As of February 25th, 2008, with the lack of funds, the vessel continues to deteriorate and the four Caterpillar engines fall further into disrepair. Two of the engines are in state that it would require major work and should be scrapped or used for parts for the other two engines which with a lot of time and money could eventually work but is unlikely to happen in the near future. The vessel's engine room along with many other systems aboard it needs serious maintenance and therefore the vessel itself should just be scrapped entirely.The ship continues to sit alongside of the pier at the State University of New York Maritime College with no immediate future in site. On March 3rd, 2008, a line attached to the ship was replaced due to the lack of care, maintenance, and chaffing which ultimately lead to it breaking.

The vessel’s engine room is currently, as of the winter/spring of 2008, being used for a, Designated Duty Engineer, class taught by the State University of New York Maritime College. With few tools, no funds, and little knowledge of the diesel/electric generators aboard, students are left on there own to work at their own pace taking apart whatever they can to learn from in a lecture that takes place before the lab.

ee also

* Stalwart class tactical auxiliary general ocean surveillance ships
* New York State Strategic Center for Port & Maritime Security
* MSC T-AGOS Project Office
* Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek
* Maersk Line Limited
* Seafarers International Union of North America
* American Maritime Officers

References

* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_print.asp?cid=4500&tid=300&ct=4&page=1 U.S Navy Stalwart class fact file]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/6601.htm USNS Stalwart data]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AGOS1.htm NVR Entry for T-AGOS 1]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/tagos-1-unit.htm Stalwart Class list]
* [http://www.sunymaritime.edu/1ngot/pdfs/NewsletterJune04.pdf SUNY-Maritime arrival photos]
* [http://www.sunymaritime.edu/News/04pressrelease.htm Stalwart SUNY Press Release]
* [http://www.msc.navy.mil/N00p/pressrel/press01/press14.htm MSC Press Release]
* [http://www.marad.dot.gov/ U.S. Maritime Administration]
* Healy, P. (2004, September 27) Ex-Navy Surveillance Ship Getting New Life in Port Security. "The New York Times", p. 5.