NOAA Research and Survey Ships

(Ships in service since NOAA's formation in 1970)

Most recent update: January 8, 2021.
This table lists all the ships that have served NOAA since its formation in 1970, including those that began their service before 1970 and those that are no longer active.  Those vessels that served the Coast & Geodetic Survey (and its predecessors) and were retired before 1970 are listed here and those that served the Fisheries & Wildlife Service (and its predecessors) and were retired before 1970 are listed here.    In this table, an R in the first column stands for Research, an S for Survey.  If anyone sees any errors or omissions, please send your info to me at timcolton@aol.com
Type # Name Builder Hull # GT Ft. Price ($mm) Delivery

Disposition
R 101 Oceanographer Jacksonville 633 3,700 303 9.5 13-Jul-66 Sold 1997 as Protector, sold 2005 as cruise ship Sahara, active
R 102 Discoverer Jacksonville 634 3,700 303 8.8 29-Apr-67 Sold 1996 for conversion to cruise ship LaMer, but not converted, disposition unknown
R 103 Researcher AmShip Toledo 198 900 278 8.4 8-Oct-70 Later Malcolm Baldridge, sold 1996 as cruise ship Ushuaia (Argentina), active
R 104 Ronald H. Brown Halter Marine 1417 3,250 274 33.6 19-Jul-97 Active, based in Charleston SC
R 105 Oceanographer Thoma-Sea       79.0   Building, to be based in Honolulu HI
R 106 Discoverer Thoma-Sea       79.0   Building, base TBD
S 132 Surveyor NASSCO 316 2,650 292 7.2 29-Apr-60 Sold 1995 as OSS 2 (ON 1225104), laid up in Tacoma WA
S 220 Fairweather Aerojet-General 644 1,800 231 5.0 2-Oct-68 Active, based in Ketchikan AK
S 221 Rainier Aerojet-General 645 1,800 231 5.0 2-Oct-68 Active, based in Seattle WA
S 222 Mount Mitchell Aerojet-General 639 1,800 231 5.4 23-Mar-68 Sold 2001 as Mt. Mitchell (ON 1081092), active
S 222 Thomas Jefferson Halter Marine 1168 1,250 208 14.0 15-Nov-91 Ex-Littlehales (T-AGS 52), acquired 2003, based in Norfolk VA
R 223 Miller Freeman AmShip Lorain 879 1,920 215 3.4 15-Jun-67 Sold 2013 as Miller Freeman (ON 508932), laid up in Seattle WA
R 224 Oscar Dyson VT Halter Marine 1944 1,250 209 41.0 5-Jan-05 Active, based in Kodiak AK
R 225 Henry B. Bigelow VT Halter Marine 1953 1,250 209 38.8 22-Jun-06 Active, based in Woods Hole MA
R 226 Pisces VT Halter Marine 1956 1,250 209 38.0 6-Jun-09 Active, based in Pascagoula MS
R 227 Bell M. Shimada VT Halter Marine 1957 1,250 209 30.0 3-Feb-10 Active, based in Newport OR
R 228 Reuben Lasker Marinette Marine   1,250 209 73.6 7-Mar-14 Active, based in San Diego CA
S 250 Ferdinand R. Hassler VT Halter Marine 1965 809 124 15.0 23-May-11 Active, based in Norfolk VA
S 328 Peirce Marietta Mfg. 902 907 163 2.3 6-May-63 To Intrepid Museum 1993 as Elizabeth M. Fisher, sold 1999 as yacht Avedonia (ON 1039191), now King
S 329 Whiting Marietta Mfg. 903 907 163 2.4 8-Jul-63 To Mexico 2005 as ARM Rio Tuxpan (BI-12)
S 330 McArthur Norshipco 164 995 175 2.9 15-Dec-66 Sold 2006 as McArthur (ON 1197412), laid up 2010
R 330 McArthur II Tacoma Boat 409 2,300 224 12.0 27-Nov-85 Ex-Indomitable (T-AGOS 7), acquired 2002, inactive 2014
S 331 Davidson Norshipco 165 995 175 3.4 10-Mar-67 Sold 1989, now Nigerian-flag
R 332 Oregon II Ingalls 1149 952 170 3.1 15-Aug-67 Active, based in Pascagoula MS
R 333 Ka'imimoana Halter Marine 1125 2,300 224 14.0 8-Mar-89 Ex-Titan (T-AGOS 15), acquired 1993, inactive 2014
R 334 Hi'ialakai Tacoma Boat 405 2,300 224 12.0 20-Nov-84 Ex-Vindicator (T-AGOS 3), acquired 2002, active, based in Honolulu HI
R 335 Oscar Elton Sette Halter Marine 1123 2,300 224 14.0 19-Aug-88 Ex-Adventurous (T-AGOS 13), acquired 1992, active, based in Honolulu HI
R 336 Gordon Gunter Halter Marine 1128 2,300 224 14.0 12-Jan-90 Ex-Relentless (T-AGOS 18), acquired 1993, active, based in Pascagoula MS
R 337 Okeanos Explorer Halter Marine 1126 2,300 224 14.0 9-Jun-89 Ex-Capable (T-AGOS 16), acquired 2004, active, based in N. Kingstown RI
R   Pribilof Higgins Ind.   1,187 223   1964 Ex-FSR 791, sold 1975, active
R 342 Albatross IV Southern Sbldg. 46 1,089 187 3.9 May-63 Sold 2008 as UAT 1 Cidiport (Mexico)
R 352 Nancy Foster McDermott 290 1,168 186   30-Oct-92 Ex-Agate Pass (YTT 12), acquired 2000, active, based in Charleston SC
R 441 George B. Kelez Ingalls IW 610 550 177   21-Feb-45 Ex-FS 400, AKL 31, acquired 1962, sold 1982, now Smugglers Point
R 443 Townsend Cromwell McDermott 308 652 163 1.3 Jul-63 To American Samoa 2002, sold 2003, now Lau Trader (Fiji)
R 444 David Starr Jordan Christy Corp. 419 993 171 3.1 Jan-66 Sold 2011 as Ocean Starr (ON 1237165), active
R 445 Delaware II South Portland 101 758 155 2.2 Oct-68 Sold 2012 as Med Surveyor (Greece)
R 446 Chapman Bender SB

748

 520 127 3.1

Jul-80

 To U. of Puerto Rico 1998, sold 2008 as Curasub (Curacao)
R 492 Ferrel Zigler Shipyards 187 360 133 1.0 4-Jun-68 Inactive 2002
R 551 Oregon Gunderson 219 100 1946 Ex-Oregon (ON 251138), acquired 1949, sold 1980, active
R 552 John N. Cobb Western Boat 250 93 Feb-50 Inactive 2008
S 590 Rude Jakobson 428 220 90 1.2 Mar-67 To EPA 2009 as Lake Explorer II
S 591 Heck Jakobson 429 220 90 1.2 Mar-67 Sold 2001
R 663 Murre II Maritime SY   95 86   1944 Ex-BSP-1915, acquired 1949, sold 1991
R 8001 Laurentian F. B. Walker   129 73   1974 To U. Michigan 2003
R   Curlew II NASSCO     65   1953 Ex-T-446, acquired 1969, sold 2012