NOAAS Albatross IV

The NOAA Ship "ALBATROSS IV" is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel.

She was built at Southern Shipbuilding in Slidell, Louisiana. She was launched in April 1962 and commissioned in May 1963.

The ice-strengthened hull of the ship is 187 feet (57 m) long. The ship has a total of 38 bunk spaces. Between the crew and officers mess rooms, the ship can seat 21 for meals. She carries a complement of 4 NOAA Corps officers, 1 civilian officer, 16 crew, including 3 licensed engineers and can accommodate up to 14 scientists.

The deck equipment features four winches, one boom crane, an A-frame, a J-frame and a portable gantrry. This equipment gives the "ALBATROSS IV" a lifting capacity of up to 10,000 pounds (4,530 kg) as well 20,000 feet (6,090 m) of cable that can pull up to 16,000 pounds (7,250 kg). Each of the winches serves a specialized function ranging from trawling and dredging to hydrographic surveys.

In support of her primary mission of fishery and living marine resource research for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) division of NOAA, the ship is equipped with shallow and deep water echo sounders, a fishfinder and an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). Additional scientific equipment includes a thermosalinograph and a fluorometer. She has 800 feet² (74 m²) of lab space with specialty labs for plankton and oceanagraphic chemistry. A 16-foot (4.8 m) launch is available for utility or rescue operations.

ee also

NOAA ships and aircraft

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