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 JOHN N. COBB History and Specifications
John N. Cobb is the oldest and the only wooden-hull ship in NOAA’s fleet. In its 58 years of service, John N. Cobb has conducted fisheries and oceanographic research throughout the Northern Pacific Ocean utilizing almost every type of fishing method, including seining, trawling, and long-lining. The ship supported the research of the National Marine Fisheries Service Auke Bay Laboratory in Juneau, Alaska. The ship has conducted operations for the Navy, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Atomic Energy Commission as well as every West Coast university’s fisheries or oceanographic programs. For the past 21 years, John N. Cobb participated in the Seafair Special People's Holiday Cruise in December, sailing from Lake Union to Lake Washington and back.
 Ship History
Designed by W.C. Nickum and Sons
Keel Laid - July 1949
Western Boat Building Company, Tacoma, Washington
Launched - January 14, 1950
Acceptance by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - February 13, 1950
Commissioned - February 18, 1950
University of Washington Oceanography Dock
Transferred to NOAA July 1, 1972
Decomissioned, August 13, 2008
Scientific Work Summary
 Exploratory Fishing of Demersal Fishes: From 1950 to 1962 extensive series of bottomfish and shellfish surveys were conducted from southern Oregon to the Arctic Ocean. These early surveys still provide base line data for current environmental evaluations.
Discovery of the Cobb Seamont in 1950 off the coast of southern Washington while doing albacore tuna explorations between Cape Blanco and Cape St. Elias.
Numerous exploratory fishing projects done in support of the Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research Program out of Seattle and later Juneau.
 First recorded Groundfish trawl surveys in Central and Eastern Gulf of Alaska in early 1970’s.
1958 Project Chariot: Environmental assessment of oceanographic, zooplankton and fisheries in the Chukchi Sea. This project was done in support of Operation Plowshare in which the Atomic Energy Commissionplanned to use 7 atomic bombs to build a deep water harbor at Cape Thompson.
Sablefish survey gear research and sablefish and rockfish life history studies in Southeast Alaska since 1978 to present including Juvenile Sablefish Tagging Project.
 Nekton Gamma submarine operations in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska during the summer of 1978 in search of deep water corals, rockfish habitat and fish behavior.
Was scheduled for decommissioning in late 1980’s but was refitted to conduct trawl studies of the Exxon Valdez oil spill impact in Prince William Sound.
Glacier Bay whale prey/cruise ship interaction study 1991.
Herring surveys including herring behavior and movements before the spawning season.
 Juvenile salmon marine ecology and factors affecting year class strength.
17-years dedicated cetacean surveys - one of the longest time series for cetacean assessments on record - 42 cruises total.
Abundance and trends studies of killer whales, harbor porpoise, and Dall’s porpoise.
Assessment of predatory behavior of killer whales to include foraging behavior, prey handling, and kill rates.
 Participant in assessing North Pacific humpback whale populations (SPLASH).
Stock structure of killer whales (genetic investigations).
Genetic investigations of killer whales to determine paternity.
Contaminant investigations of killer whales.
Killer whale dietary preferences using fatty acid/stable isotope assessment.
Cetacean habitat investigations.
Humpback whale predation on herring and other fish in Southeast Alaska.
Cold water coral and sponge benthic habitat.
Habitat mapping of nearshore estuaries.
 Oceanographic sampling and long-term coastal monitoring.
Initial capture development techniques for ice seals in Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm, Alaska. This was the first successful technique in the U.S. and are now used in Bering Sea ice seal studies.
Discovery of female seal migration to Southeast Alaska tide water glaciers to give birth and safely rear pups.
Vessel/seal disturbance studies conducted in such glacial fjords where vessel traffic has been increasing annually as a result of growing tourist industry.
 Support remote field camps and Little Port Walter Marine Station.
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