UW’s New Research Vessel Ready for Work
The University of Washington School of Oceanography took delivery of the former R/V Aora last August in Hartlepool, England after purchasing the vessel from a private party. The vessel, renamed R/V Rachel Carson, underwent a drydock maintenance period at MacDuff Shipyard in Scotland and was transported to the Pacific Northwest via two cargo ships.
Since the vessel’s arrival at UW on December 28, 2017, UW has been preparing and transforming the former fisheries research vessel into a capable Local Class oceanographic research vessel. R/V Rachel Carson's first research cruise starts on April 7 supporting Washington Ocean Acidification Center research headed up by UW APL's Dr. Jan Newton.
R/V Rachel Carson is a step up in capability from its predecessor, R/V Clifford Barnes. With the new ship's endurance, excellent ship handling and seakeeping capabilities, significantly increased lab space, and increased load handling capability - it is now possible to conduct research in higher sea states, along the outer coast and out at sea with more scientists onboard.
The Rachel Carson will undergo an inspection by JMS Naval Architects in June 2018 and after that UW will apply to add the ship to the UNOLS fleet.
Ship's Characteristics
Length: 72.6 feet (22m)
Beam: 25.7 feet (7.8m)
Draft: 13 feet (3.9m)
Speed: 10.5 knot max
Endurance: 14 days minimum
Propulsion: Direct drive diesel (2 x 350 hp) - twin screw, twin rudder, 80 hp bow thruster
Electrical: 2 each 187 kw diesel generators, 1 each 30 kw harbor generator
Berthing: Up to 13 total: 2 ea 4-person staterooms, 5 single staterooms 4 each heads onboard
Laboratories
Wet Lab 11.4 sq meters
Dry Lab 9.0 sq meters
Refrigerators: 2 ea
Freezer: 1 ea
Power Supplies: 115 vAC, 60 Hz; 240 vAC, 50 Hz; 24 vDC
Deck Machinery - central hydraulic system
CTD Slip Ring Winch: 4,500-ft of 0.322-inch E-M cable
Hydro Winch: 5,000-ft of 3/16-inch hydro wire
3 ea Spit Trawl Winches - 8.0 T core pull
2 ea Aux Winches - 3.0 T core pull
Crane - 8.0 mT with winch
Gantry - 5,000 lb capacity
Anchor Windlass 2.5 T pull
Science
CTD - Seabird SBE 9/11 12 each 10 liter bottles
RM Young MET Sensors
SCS data network
Simrad SL35 searchlight sonar - 90 kHz
Simrad ES60 Echosounder - 50 & 200 kHz single beam
Simrad EK60 Echosounder - 38, 120, & 200 kHz split beam
GeoAcoustics Sidescan Sonar - 100 & 410 kHz
Thermosalinograph - to be installed soon
Communications
Fleet Broad Band
Cellular
HF & VHF
WiFi
February 2024
