Contact: Dan Dewell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bob Chartuk 6/18/97The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hydrographic survey ship Rude, which gained prominence last July when it made the first discovery of TWA Flight 800's underwater wreckage, will tie up along the East River on Monday, June 23, to participate in the United Nations' special "Earth Summit + Five" meeting -- marking half a decade since the landmark 1992 conference on the environment held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Rude (pronounced Rudy), currently conducting hydrographic surveys in New York Harbor to update nautical charts for safe navigation, plays a key role in NOAA's efforts to explore and protect the world's oceans an important objective of the 1992 Earth Summit. Such surveys are an important contribution to the U.N.'s International Oceanographic Commission ocean research programs. NOAA cooperates with the U.N.'s International Oceanographic Commission, utilizing ships like the Rude to collect ocean data that is critical for the prudent management of our oceans.
The Rude will be moored near the United Nations on the East River at 30th Street Monday through Wednesday, June 23-25. Public tours will be available on Tuesday and Wednesday from 12:00 noon-3:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m.
The Rude's officers and crew use state-of-the-art sonar and ocean research gear to conduct surveys of coastal ocean waters. When TWA Flight 800 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island last year, the ship broke off scheduled operations and raced to the crash site to assist in the search and recovery efforts. Rude's personnel used the ship's sensitive scanning equipment and their charting expertise to locate and map the major wreckage sites within 48 hours of the crash.
The ship has been conducting extensive ocean surveys in the waters off Long Island as part of an ongoing NOAA project to update ocean navigation information in key ports and waterways around the United States. A component of NOAA's fleet of research ships and aircraft, the Rude is operated and managed by the Office of NOAA Corps Operations, made up of civilians and officers of the NOAA Commissioned Corps, the nation's seventh uniformed service. All NOAA Corps officers are scientists or engineers. Aboard the Rude and NOAA's other hydrographic survey vessels, the commanding officer usually serves as chief hydrographer.
Note to Editors: Further information about the NOAA Corps and fleet (including Rude) is available on the Internet web site of the Office of NOAA Corps Operations: http://www.noaa.gov/nchome For information on nautical charting, see the Coast Survey's web site: http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov