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.
| 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
edit- ^ "Rachel Carson : Specifications and Equipment". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "Research Vessel Design". JMS Naval Architects & Salvage Engineers. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ a b c "The R/V Rachel Carson". University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ "New R/V Rachel Carson Commissioned". Chesapeake Quarterly. 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2012.