Point of Contact:
Jim Boyle
Office of Naval Research
Corporate Communications Office
Phone: 703-623-8199
Fax: 703-696-5940
E-mail: boylej@onr.navy.mil

Arlington, Va.—The Office of Naval Research’s Afloat Lab, nicknamed “Starfish,” will make a port visit June 10 through 12 to help celebrate the 29th Annual Norfolk Harborfest. The boat will be docked at Waterside and open for public tours noon to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The Starfish  is a former Naval Academy Yard Patrol craft which was once used to train midshipmen in Annapolis, Md. The Office of Naval Research now uses the vessel to test new technologies in an at-sea environment, and to give the public the opportunity to learn about a sampling of the many technologies the Navy supports.

During Harborfest, visitors to the Starfish can see how the vessel’s network systems “heal” themselves in the event of damage; how the captain can steer the boat from anywhere on board using a handheld device; a camera system that provides a 360° view around the boat; unmanned aerial vehicles that can give Marine and Special Warfare units a bird’s eye view of dangers over the next hill; a model of a high-speed cruise missile being developed by the Navy; a model and video of the brand new Sea Fighter, a 262-foot aluminum catamaran that can travel as fast as 50 knots and operate in just 12 feet of water; body armor designed to protect the arms and legs without being too heavy or cumbersome; and more.

--USN--
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The Office of Naval Research (ONR) manages science and technology research for the Navy and Marine Corps.  ONR sponsors basic and applied research in oceanography, advanced materials, sensors, robotics, biomedical science and technology, electronics, surveillance, mathematics, manufacturing technology, information science, advanced combat systems, and technologies for ships, submarines, aircraft, and ground vehicles—and more.
 For information about ONR´s programs, go to http://www.onr.navy.mil.