 Okeanos Explorer at sea (with satellite dome before it was shortened in 2011)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USNS Capable (T-AGOS-16) |
| Awarded | 20 February 1987 |
| Builder | Halter Marine |
| Laid down | 17 October 1987 |
| Launched | 28 October 1988 |
| In service | 9 June 1989 |
| Out of service | 14 September 2004 |
| Fate | Transferred to NOAA |
 United States | |
| Name | Okeanos Explorer |
| Commissioned | 13 August 2008 |
| In service | 2010 - present |
| Homeport | Newport, Rhode Island |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Stalwart-class ocean Surveillance Ship |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 224 ft (68 m) |
| Beam | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 × Caterpillar D398 diesels, 3,200 hp; GE motors, 2 × 800 hp; 2 × 250 hp stern thrusters; 1 × 500 hp bow thruster |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Range | 9,600 nautical miles (18,000 km) |
| Endurance | 40 days |
| Complement | 7 commissioned officers, 3 licensed engineers, 17 crew, 22 scientists |
NOAAS Okeanos Explorer (R 337) is a converted United States Navy ship (formerly USNS Capable (T-AGOS-16)), now an exploratory vessel for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), officially launched in 2010.[1] Starting in 2010, NOAA entered into a five-year partnership with the San Francisco Exploratorium. The focus is on gathering scientific information about oceans for the public as well as for scientific uses. As much as 95% of the ocean remains unexplored, NOAA officials said.[2] The ship is equipped with cameras and will provide real-time viewing of the ocean floor for scientists and for the public.[1]
This is a pioneering use of what NOAA calls "telepresence technology".[3] The Okeanos Explorer is the only vessel owned by the U.S. government that is dedicated to exploring the seabed and ocean crust.[4] The ship is named after Okeanos, the Ancient Greek god of the sea, from which also comes the word "ocean".
- ^ a b "New high-tech ship will take ocean exploration to new, amazing depths". www.mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2009-08-09.[dead link]
- ^ Kerr, Dara. "Okeanos Explorer to delve the depths of the seas". news.cnet.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
- ^ Martinez, Catalina Martinez. "NOAA Ocean Explorer: Okeanos Explorer: A New Paradigm for Exploration: Telepresence". oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
- ^ "Telepresence Technology — Office of Ocean Exploration and Research". explore.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-08-09.