 USNS Melville (T-AGOR-14) underway off Bay City, Michigan, 9 July 1969
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Melville (1968-2016) |
| Namesake | George Wallace Melville, a noted Arctic explorer and Chief of the Bureau of Steam Engineering from 1887 to 1903 |
| Builder | Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan |
| Laid down | 12 July 1967 |
| Launched | 10 July 1968 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Elford A. Cederberg |
| Acquired | by the U.S. Navy 1 August 1969, as USNS Melville (T-AGOR-14) |
| In service | 1969, for operation as R/V Melville by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California |
| Homeport | La Jolla, California |
| Fate | Transferred to Philippines 29 April 2016 |
| Notes |
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| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Philippines | |
| Name | Gregorio Velasquez (2016-present) |
| Namesake | Gregorio Velasquez |
| Acquired | by the Philippine Navy 28 April 2016 |
| Recommissioned | 28 April 2016 |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Robert D. Conrad-class oceanographic research ship |
| Tonnage | 2,516 tons (7,125 m³) |
| Displacement | 2,944 long tons (2,991 t) |
| Length | 279 feet (85 m) |
| Beam | 46 feet (14 m) |
| Draft | 16 feet 6 inches (5.03 m) (maximum) |
| Propulsion | two 1,385 hp Propulsion General Electric motors, Bow Thruster: 900 hp retractable Azimuth-compensating bow thruster, Two 1385 hp Z-Drive Lips propellers |
| Speed | Cruising: 11.7 knots (21.7 km/h); Maximum: 14 knots (26 km/h); Minimum: variable to 0, any direction |
| Range | Range: 10,061 nmi (18,633 km; 11,578 mi) at 11.7 knots (fuel) |
| Endurance | 40 days at 11.7 knots (fuel) |
| Capacity | Water Capacity: 15,900 gallons (60,200 L) |
| Complement | 23 civilian mariners, 38 scientists |
| Armament | none |
| Notes | Fuel consumption: 3,600 gallons per day (13,600 L/d) (transit) |
BRP Gregorio Velasquez is Philippine Navy's first oceanographic research vessel.[1] It was built by the United States Navy as USNS Melville (T-AGOR-14) for university support of Navy programs. The ship was operated as the research vessel R/V Melville by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for oceanographic research. As the R/V Melville, it was the oldest active vessel in the academic research fleet, collectively known as the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS)[2] (UNOLS).[3] The US Government confirmed on 17 November 2015 that the Melville was to be transferred to the Philippine Navy as Excess Defense Articles (EDA)s.[4] The vessel was officially transferred to the Philippines on 28 April 2016 and was commissioned into active service at the same time with the Philippine Navy.[5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "What is UNOLS?". Archived from the original on 2010-02-28. Retrieved 2009-12-18. | University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System: What is UNOLS?
- ^ http://scrippsnews.ucsd.edu/Releases/?releaseID=927 Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine | Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Scripps News: Scripps Research Vessel Melville Returns after Two-and-a-Half Year Voyage
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
WhiteHousewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "U.S. Navy Transfers Research Vessel to Philippine Navy".