The THOMAS JEFFERSON is one of a fleet of research and survey vessels used by NOAA to improve our understanding of the marine environment. The ship is home ported in Norfolk, Virginia, and primarily operates along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The primary mission of the THOMAS JEFFERSON is to conduct hydrographic surveys for updating NOAA’s nautical charts. The THOMAS JEFFERSON continues the work of its predecessor, the WHITING.

Hydrographic surveys used for nautical charting include thousands of systematic depth measurements, as well as positions of wrecks or obstructions in navigable waters. These data are acquired by THOMAS JEFFERSON and its two survey launches equipped with specialized echo sounders, multibeam sonars, and side-scan sonars. Data acquisition and processing relies heavily on state-of-the-art computers, specialized software, and highly skilled ship personnel. Commercial shipping relies on accurate nautical charts for the safe transportation of goods such as petroleum, coal, steel, automobiles, grain, and containerized cargo.

• NOAA Administrator Vice Admiral Lautenbacher visited the THOMAS JEFFERSON during the ship's June 4-9, 2003 in port in Baltimore, MD.
  See the pictures from Vice Admiral Lautenbacher's visit.
   
• The commissioning ceremony for the THOMAS JEFFERSON was held in Norfolk, Virginia on July 8, 2003. Susan Stein, curator for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, was a speaker at the ceremony, read her remarks about what it means to name the ship for Thomas Jefferson.
  
  
• The THOMAS JEFFERSON picks up a mascot during the recent hydrographic survey cruise. See the story here "Tillie" - The Great White.

THOMAS JEFFERSON's E-mail address is:

Noaa.Ship.Thomas.Jefferson@noaa.gov

THOMAS JEFFERSON's Mail address is:

NOAA Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON
Marine Operations Center, Atlantic
439 York Street
Norfolk, VA 23510-1145

THOMAS JEFFERSON's Telephone Numbers