NOAAS Fairweather

The NOAA Ship "Fairweather" is a research ship operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The "Fairweather" primarily conducts hydrographic surveys in Alaskan waters, but is considered a multi-mission capable vessel. "Fairweather" has conducted fisheries research cruises, as well as Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoy operations. She is the sister ship of the NOAA Ship "Rainier" and the retired NOAA Ship "Mount Mitchell".

Overview

"Fairweather" was commissioned in 1968 and is named for Mount Fairweather in Alaska. Deactivated in 1989, the ship remained alongside NOAA's Pacific Marine Center in Seattle, Washington for thirteen years. After being refitted at the Cascade General Shipyard in Portland, Oregon, the ship was reactivated in 2004 to aid with the backlog of critical survey area in Alaskan waters. Her current homeport is Ketchikan, Alaska.

Crew

"Fairweather", like all NOAA ships, is operated by commissioned officers of the NOAA Corps and civilian wage mariners. "Fairweather" has a complement of around 35 people, with additional berthing capability for visitors and scientists. The ship generally spends over 200 days per year at sea.

Equipment and Mission

"Fairweather" is equipped with two RESON model multibeam transducers (8111ER and 8160). Her survey launches are equipped with RESON 8101 multibeam transducers. Using this technology, the crew of "Fairweather" fully maps the ocean floor. This data is used to update NOAA's US Nautical charts, in tsunami displacement modeling, as well as to map fish habitats.

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