RV Rachel Carson (2008)

RV Rachel Carson is a research vessel owned and operated by the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science, named in honor of the marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson.

For other ships with the same name, see RV Rachel Carson.
History
United States
Name: Rachel Carson
Namesake: Rachel Carson
Operator: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Builder: Hike Metal Products, Wheatley, Ontario
Cost: USD$4.6m
Christened: November 16, 2008
In service: 2009
Homeport: Solomons, Maryland
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics [1]
Type: Research vessel
Tonnage:
Length: 81 ft (25 m) o/a
Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m)
Draft: 4 ft 8 in (1.42 m)
Installed power: Two MTU 10V 2000 M-72 diesel engines, 2 × 1,205 hp (899 kW)
Propulsion:
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity: Up to 5 persons overnight; maximum of 30 for educational cruises
Crew: 2

The 81-foot aluminum-hulled vessel is an extended and modified Challenger class fast research vessel, designed by marine architect Roger Long.[2] It is equipped with twin 1,200 horsepower diesel engines and water jet drives which give a maximum speed of 24 knots. A dynamic positioning system automatically maintains the vessel's position.[3]

The ship was built by Hike Metal Products of Wheatley, Ontario,[3] at a cost of $4.6 million, and christened by Katie O'Malley on November 16, 2008, at Annapolis.[4]

The Rachel Carson has operated in Chesapeake Bay since early 2009, teaching estuarine sampling techniques, carrying out water quality surveys, plankton collection, box coring operations, and deploying instrument packages.[3]

References
  1. "Rachel Carson : Specifications and Equipment". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  2. "Research Vessel Design". JMS Naval Architects & Salvage Engineers. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. "The R/V Rachel Carson". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  4. "New R/V Rachel Carson Commissioned". Chesapeake Quarterly. 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
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