Contact: Jeanne Kouhestani FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8/18/97An oceanographic research ship built by Halter Marine Inc. of Gulfport, Miss., that bears the name of Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) on its keel was recently commissioned and welcomed by Commerce Secretary William M. Daley into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fleet of oceanographic research ships
"The Ronald H. Brown is among the most technologically advanced seagoing research platforms in America today," Secretary Daley said. "It will be used to collect environmental data that will help further our understanding of the ever-changing world we live in, helping us make sound decisions about our lives, our homes, our institutions and our economy."
The 274-ft. ship has meteorological and ocean data-collecting capabilities including a Doppler radar to study storm dynamics at sea that are unique in the U.S. civilian fleet. Scientists aboard the vessel will study global climate change and other critical environmental issues, across the world's oceans. The Brown's first scientific cruise, now underway, is a study of the three-dimensional structure of clouds and precipitation in the eastern tropical Pacific, a region that has a strong influence on atmospheric circulation patterns worldwide.
The Ronald H. Brown, named after the late Commerce secretary who died in a plane crash in 1996 while on an overseas trade mission, is the first new research ship constructed for NOAA in 17 years. The ship was built by Halter Marine Inc. as the last of three AGOR 24-class vessels built under a contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command.
"We are extremely pleased with the performance and exceptional maneuverability of the ship," said Rear Admiral William Stubblefield, director of the Office of NOAA Corps Operations, which operates and manages the agency's fleet of ships and aircraft. "Halter Marine has done an outstanding job in presenting NOAA with a state-of-the-art platform that will help us meet our diverse mission needs at sea and make a significant contribution to oceanographic research."
The Brown replaces the oceanographic research ships Malcolm Baldrige and Discoverer, which were decommissioned last year following more than 60 years of combined service. The Brown, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, will be a more effective and cost-efficient vessel than its predecessors.
The Ronald H. Brown is commanded by Captain David Peterson of the NOAA Corps. The Office of NOAA Corps Operations, composed of civilians and commissioned officers, manages and operates the agency's fleet of ships and aircraft. The NOAA Corps is the nation's smallest uniformed service. The Brown's complement includes four commissioned officers, 20 civilian crew members, and up to 35 scientists.
Further information about the Office of NOAA Corps Operations and the Ronald H. Brown can be found on ONCO's Internet web site at: http://www.noaa.gov/nchome. For the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, primary user of the Brown, see: http://www.oar.noaa.gov.